UN. Licenziato l’ecologista capo. Spendeva come un satrapo.

Giuseppe Sandro Mela.

2018-11-20.

Mai a memoria di uomo si riscontrò un ambientalista povero.

Tutti ricchi, straricchi, con grandi stipendi rigorosamente di denari pubblici.

Mr Erik Solheim, UN environment chief, amava trattarsi bene.

«A recent draft internal audit, obtained by Britain’s Guardian newspaper and seen by the BBC, said he had incurred costs of $488,518 (£382,111) while travelling for 529 out of 668 days»

*

«There was “no oversight or accountability” to monitor this travel»

*

«The report was particularly critical of the travel undertaken under Mr Solheim, UN Environment executive director since 2016. A total about $58m was spent in the two years since then»

*

$58m sono una gran bella cifra.

E la abbiamo pagata anche noi italiani con i nostri contributi alle Nazioni Unite.

---

→ Bbc. 2018-11-20. UN environment chief Erik Solheim quits amid expenses row

UN environment chief Erik Solheim has resigned amid a row over his travel expenses.

A recent draft internal audit, obtained by Britain’s Guardian newspaper and seen by the BBC, said he had incurred costs of $488,518 (£382,111) while travelling for 529 out of 668 days.

It said this harmed the reputation of UN Environment – a body that highlights green issues and sustainability.

There was “no oversight or accountability” to monitor this travel.

Mr Solheim, a Norwegian former environment minister, says he has paid back the money where “instances of oversight” occurred.

On Tuesday, Mr Solheim himself confirmed his resignation, Norway’s NRK broadcaster reported.

A formal UN announcement is expected shortly.

What did the audit say?

The amount spent on travel by UN Environment, a Kenya-based agency, doubled between 2014 and 2017.

The report was particularly critical of the travel undertaken under Mr Solheim, UN Environment executive director since 2016. A total about $58m was spent in the two years since then.

While all UN staff are expected to complete “mission reports” within two weeks of travel, the audit found that these were often missing.

When they requested reports for 596 trips undertaken by 32 managers and staff, 210 mission reports were not provided, while around 200 others were only completed after the request was made.

The audio was carried out by the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS).

It says Mr Solheim’s leave and travel were approved by a member of his office who reported directly to him – in contravention of UN rules.

On one occasion, it says, “he made an eight-hour trip from Washington DC for a weekend in Paris, before taking another flight to New York city.”