ESG Training Course South Africa | Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Training

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Training

Navigating Evolving ESG Compliance, Reporting Requirements, and Stakeholder Expectations

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Platform:
Online
In-class
Revised and Updated: 30 September 2026
Date Venue Duration
12 - 16 October 2026 Sandton, Gauteng 5 Days
23 - 27 November 2026 Sandton, Gauteng 5 Days
09 - 11 December 2026 Cape Town, Western Cape 3 Days

Course Introduction

Organisations, both globally and across the African continent, have a heightened awareness of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, as investors, regulators, and the community at large demand greater transparency and board accountability. Organisations that prioritise ESG can drive value and mitigate risks to operations and the bottom line over time.

 

This highly interactive ESG Training will unpack an overview of the ESG framework and how it supports an organisation’s overall performance and risk management, including South Africa’s Climate Change Act (in force since March 2025) and IFRS S1 and S2 — the ISSB’s Sustainability and Climate Disclosure Standards, now the dominant global reporting framework, mandatory in more than 21 jurisdictions. It will examine each component in detail, and discuss corporate pressures, stakeholder expectations, and their impact on risk identification and business success.

 

Completing our Environmental Social and Governance ESG Training program ensures that business leaders build credible sustainability roadmaps while safeguarding shareholder value. Participating in Environmental Social and Governance ESG Training transforms corporate compliance into a sustainable competitive advantage, making Environmental Social and Governance ESG Training essential for forward-thinking organizations.

Key Training Outputs

Participants focused on Environmental Social and Governance ESG Training typically include:

  • ESG Policy
  • ESG Strategy
  • ESG Implementation Plan
  • ESG Reporting
  • Carbon Management & Accounting

Course Duration Options

This Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Training course is available in two formats, so you can choose the depth that fits your time and needs:

3-Day Essentials Core Foundations

ESG foundations, reporting frameworks, disclosures, regulation, risk, climate framework compliance, and carbon accounting essentials.

Ideal for: Those who need practical, immediate capability without an extended time commitment.

Course Objectives

At the end of this Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Training, you will learn to:

  • Explain what ESG is and its relevance to financial decision-making
  • Describe key environmental, social, and governance issues
  • Explain why ESG is more important now than ever for your business
  • Know where to begin when developing your company’s ESG policies and strategies
  • Analyse ESG risks and opportunities
  • Understand the government’s role in fast-tracking ESG in Africa
  • Assess ESG company performance using publicly available information
  • Understand how investment and operating contexts are changing in response to environmental and societal imperatives
  • Select sustainable investment indexes
  • Apply IFRS S1 and S2 (ISSB Sustainability and Climate Disclosure Standards), now the dominant global reporting framework
  • Prepare to meet South Africa’s Climate Change Act and international ESG regulations
  • Understand carbon management and accounting, including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions

Who should attend?

  • Directors (Executive or Non-Executive)
  • Chairpersons
  • Chief Executive Officers
  • Managing Directors
  • Senior Managers
  • Company Secretaries
  • Compliance Officers
  • ESG, Sustainability, and CSR Professionals
  • Audit Professionals
  • Investment Specialists
  • Chief Financial Officers
  • General Counsel
  • Risk Managers
  • Investment and Portfolio Managers
  • Supply Chain and Due Diligence Professionals
  • Fund and Asset Managers
  • Investor Relations Specialists

From These Sectors

  • Government & Parastatals
  • Mining
  • Aviation
  • Utilities
  • Construction
  • Hospitality
  • Transport and Logistics
  • Agriculture and Agro-Processing
  • Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare
  • Insurance
  • Real Estate
  • Automobile
  • Fashion and Beauty
  • Banking & Finance
  • Manufacturing
  • Telecommunications & IT
  • Oil & Gas
  • NGOs
  • Retail
  • Entertainment
Finance Courses

Training Methodology

Our diverse instructional approaches ensure effective learning:

– Lectures & Presentations: Engage with expert-driven, stimulating content.
– Course Material: Access well-crafted supporting resources.
– Group Work: Collaborate on discussions and case studies for practical insights.
– Workshops & Role-Play: Participate in immersive, scenario-based activities.
– Practical Application: Focus on applying theoretical knowledge in real situations.
– Post-Training Support: Receive extensive support after training for skill implementation.

Training Outline

3-Day Essentials — Training Outline

DAY 1 — ESG Foundations and Reporting
Session 1: Introduction & Background to ESG
  • What is ESG, and its key drivers: regulation, clients, investors, banks, and companies
  • Current and emerging ESG trends
  • ESG investing: the landscape, risks, and opportunities
  • Sustainable investment indexes, and the Triple/Quadruple Bottom Line
Session 2: Credible ESG Reporting
  • ESG reporting frameworks, including IFRS S1 and S2 (ISSB Sustainability and Climate Disclosure Standards)
  • Integrated reporting and key indicators
  • ESG in the boardroom: the role of the board and audit committee

DAY 2 — Disclosures, Regulation, and Risk
Session 3: ESG Disclosures and Stakeholder Expectations
  • What ESG disclosures are, and applying TCFD guidelines
  • Qualitative vs. quantitative disclosures, and best practices
  • Stakeholder activism and closing the expectation gap
Session 4: Laws, Regulation, and Risk Assessment
  • Key ESG frameworks: GRI, GIIN, CDP, SASB, and IFRS S1/S2
  • South Africa's Climate Change Act, in force since March 2025
  • ESG risk assessment fundamentals and climate scenario analysis

DAY 3 — Climate, Carbon Accounting, and Your Action Plan
Session 5: ESG Framework Compliance Components
  • Climate change, the economy, and the pursuit of net zero
  • Climate governance and business resilience planning
  • Climate reporting, disclosure practices, and avoiding greenwashing
  • The people perspective: diversity, equity, and inclusion in ESG strategy
Session 6: Carbon Management and Accounting Essentials
  • Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, and core carbon accounting methods
  • Aligning carbon accounting with IFRS S1 and S2 disclosure requirements
Session 7: Close-Out
  • Consolidating the week's learning into a practical ESG action plan
  • Deciding whether the 5-Day Comprehensive programme is the right next step

5-Day Comprehensive — Training Outline

Module 1: Introduction & Background to ESG
Introduction & Background to ESG
  • What is Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)?
  • The history of ESG, and its key drivers: regulation, clients, investors, banks, companies, and sustainability
  • Managing ESG implementation and the measurement roadmap
  • How investment and operating contexts are changing in response to environmental and societal imperatives
ESG Global Perspective and Insights
  • Perceptive insights and thought leadership on worldwide ESG trends
  • Analysing current and emerging trends driving the ESG agenda
  • What is driving climate and sustainable finance globally
Understanding ESG Investing
  • The landscape of ESG investing, and the link between ESG and investing
  • E, S, and G opportunities and risks; ESG performance and current thinking
  • Socially Responsible Investment and selecting sustainable investment indexes
  • The Triple and Quadruple Bottom Line: 3Ps (Planet, People, Profit) and 4Ps (adding Purpose)

Module 2: Ensuring Credible ESG Reporting for Stakeholders
Understanding ESG Reporting
  • An overview of ESG reporting frameworks, including IFRS S1 and S2 (ISSB Sustainability and Climate Disclosure Standards), now mandatory in 21+ jurisdictions
  • Integrated reporting and key indicators
  • Guiding principles for ESG reporting, and what an ESG report looks like
  • Current and proposed ESG reporting requirements in key jurisdictions
ESG in the Boardroom
  • The role of the board and audit committee in managing sustainability and ESG issues
  • Board oversight of the dynamic ESG landscape, and how ESG affects corporate strategy and risk oversight
  • Legislation, mandatory and voluntary reporting requirements, litigation, and risk management
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the boardroom and beyond

Module 3: Critical Concepts in ESG Disclosures
Critical Concepts in ESG Disclosures
  • What ESG disclosures are, and whether they are mandatory
  • Disclosure categories, and applying the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) guidelines
  • Qualitative vs. quantitative disclosures, and best practices in writing and interpreting them
Corporate Pressures & Stakeholder Expectations
  • Living up to stakeholder expectations and identifying business opportunities
  • How stakeholder pressure and corporate governance affect sustainability report quality
  • How ESG stakeholder activism is transforming corporate governance
  • Closing the stakeholder expectation gap

Module 4: Laws and Regulation of ESG Compliance
ESG Regulation
  • Key ESG frameworks: Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), CDP, Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), and IFRS S1/S2
  • Growing ESG regulations and compliance requirements
  • The government's role in fast-tracking ESG, and navigating the global regulatory landscape
ESG Risk Assessment Fundamentals
  • Identifying and assessing enterprise-wide and financial risks associated with climate change
  • Conducting scenario analysis and developing mitigation strategies
  • The Green Swan: an introduction to climate change science
  • Business resilience considerations and action plans
  • Integrating ESG into credit assessment

Module 5: ESG Framework Compliance Components
Climate Change and the Economy
  • Climate change and global warming: causes and potential economic impacts
  • The pursuit of net zero organisations and economies
Climate Governance
  • The principle of Inclusive Capitalism, and effective, ethical leadership
  • Tools for engaging the board and executive team in accounting for sustainability
  • Legal and regulatory influences, including South Africa's Climate Change Act, in force since March 2025, and the second phase of South Africa's carbon tax (effective January 2026)
Climate Reporting and Disclosures
  • How companies supplement financial statements with non-financial ESG disclosures
  • The benefits of strong sustainability reporting, and the pitfalls of greenwashing
  • Using AI-assisted tools to accelerate ESG report drafting and emissions data tracking
Climate Change and the People Perspective
  • Workforce considerations across ESG strategy, from diversity and inclusion to greening employment contracts

Module 6: Carbon Management and Accounting
Carbon Accounting Fundamentals
  • Introduction to carbon management and accounting
  • Stakeholders of carbon accounting
  • Carbon accounting principles and best practices
Measuring Emissions
  • Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions
  • Carbon accounting methods
  • Identifying and calculating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Carbon Accounting and Disclosure
  • Carbon accounting in sustainability strategy
  • Aligning carbon accounting with IFRS S1 and S2 sustainability disclosure requirements
  • Using AI-assisted tools to streamline emissions data collection and calculation

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Success Stories

Discover how our courses enhance professionals’ effectiveness in their workplaces.

Central Bank of Lesotho

Fraud Risk Management

The Fraud Risk Management training was clear, practical, and very relevant to day-to-day work. Content was well structured and the real world case studies made concepts easy to apply. Presenter knowledge and engagement kept the session interactive. Overall a valuable program that strengthened my understanding of fraud detection, prevention, and regulatory requirements.

Central Bank of Lesotho

Fraud Risk Management

The facilitator was exceptionally good, approachable eloquent and was able to structure the course content to relate to our specific work designations, it was just perfect service delivery

Central Bank of Lesotho

Fraud Risk Management

Keep up the good work which I experienced during my training being training materials offered and great hospitality we received from all the staff members

Centenary Rural Development Group Ltd

Risk Management for Risk champions

Very informative course with good content and benchmarks of key players in South Africa. We are able to agree a plan on how to build an enterprise risk management framework for a developing group of companies. Several references to guide us and experienced Facilitators

GEMS

Auditing the ESG Process Masterclass

Very happy with the training. It was excellently delivered and comprehensively covered all critical aspects of ESG and effectively contextualised them within the environments of our respective organisations.

North West Gambling Board

Risk Management in the Public Sector

The course was eye opening and exceeded my expectations.

FAQs – Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Training

Develop practical ESG skills covering environmental, social and governance principles, sustainability, risk management, reporting, compliance, and responsible business practices.

What is covered in the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Training?
The ESG training covers ESG fundamentals, global trends, sustainable investment, ESG reporting and disclosures, board oversight, stakeholder expectations, ESG regulation, risk assessment, climate change and ESG framework compliance.
Who should attend Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Training?
The course is suitable for directors, CEOs, senior managers, company secretaries, compliance and audit professionals, ESG and sustainability specialists, risk managers, investment professionals and supply chain professionals.
Does the ESG Training cover ESG reporting and disclosures?
Yes. Participants explore ESG reporting frameworks, integrated reporting, key indicators, disclosure categories, stakeholder communication, qualitative and quantitative disclosures, and approaches to credible ESG reporting.
Does the ESG course cover ESG risk assessment?
Yes. The training covers identifying and assessing enterprise-wide and climate-related financial risks, scenario analysis, mitigation strategies, business resilience and the integration of ESG into risk management and credit assessment.
Which ESG frameworks and regulations are covered?
The course covers ESG reporting and compliance frameworks including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), CDP and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), along with evolving ESG regulatory requirements.
Does the ESG Training include practical learning activities?
Yes. The training uses group work, case studies, workshops, role-play and practical application activities to help participants apply ESG concepts to organisational performance, risk management and stakeholder expectations.

ESG Training Course South Africa: What You Will Learn

This practical ESG Training Course South Africa programme equips participants with the knowledge and practical skills to understand ESG principles, assess and manage sustainability risks, navigate key reporting requirements and apply ESG practices within their organisations.

 

Participants will also gain practical insights into ESG reporting, climate-related considerations, carbon accounting and developing effective ESG strategies that support responsible and sustainable business decision-making.

Participants completing the ESG Training Course South Africa will be better equipped to support ESG reporting, risk management and sustainability initiatives within their organisations.

  • Understand ESG principles, frameworks and reporting requirements, including IFRS S1 and IFRS S2.

  • Assess climate-related risks, opportunities and disclosures within an organisation.

  • Apply practical approaches to carbon accounting and greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Understand South Africa’s ESG and climate regulatory landscape, including the Climate Change Act.

  • Develop practical ESG strategies, policies and implementation plans that support sustainable business practices.

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