Themed The ESG Greenprint: Capital | Capability | Commitment, the conference arrives at a time when the cost of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) inaction is rising sharply.

According to a 2024 World Economic Forum white paper, up to 35% of South Africa's export value could be at risk if the country's transport and logistics sectors fail to decarbonise in line with the carbon border policies being adopted by its leading trade partners.

Now in its fifth year, the conference has established itself as the foremost gathering for sustainability practitioners, executives, and policymakers across the logistics, transport and supply chain sectors in South Africa.

This edition raises the stakes further, bringing together green finance specialists, ESG assurance experts, academic institutions, and industry heavyweights to deliver a practical, actionable roadmap for businesses of every size.

"The ESG Greenprint is not a vision for the future, it is the operating reality of today,” says CILTSA President, Elvin Harris. “South Africa's logistics, transport and supply chain sectors have both the responsibility - and the opportunity - to lead the necessary transition. CILTSA is committed to ensuring our members, and the broader industry, have the capital access, skills, and strategic resolve to do so.”

Unlocking green finance for a bankable future

A central focus of the day will be green financing, with a dedicated funding panel bringing together representatives from development finance institutions, commercial banks, and green fund managers.

There will also be a presentation on ESG assurance frameworks, demonstrating how transport operators can move from a sustainability plan to a verified framework that makes their business genuinely bankable.

Isuzu Motors South Africa will address the intersection of green fleet investment and the technical skills required to sustain it.

Building the skills the sector needs

The afternoon session will feature a talent panel focused on closing the ESG skills gap by 2030, moderated by Liesl de Wet, Head of Organisational Sustainability at Unitrans and Chairperson of the Road Freight Association’s Green Transport Working Group.

De Wet, who brings deep expertise in SMME sustainability challenges, is forthright about what is at stake. “Doing nothing is no longer the lowest-risk option. Not responding to ESG requirements can result in supplier exclusion, the inability to secure funding, and serious reputational risk.”

For de Wet, the most important shift is mindset. "In logistics, transport and supply chain, doing ESG well often means running a better business. When ESG considerations are built into everyday decisions - how vehicles are run, how people are treated, how risks are managed - it stops being an extra and starts becoming a genuine business advantage."

The draft conference programme also includes a keynote address on integrating ESG across the retail supply chain, as well as a case study on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as a competitive metric.

For more information please visit https://www.ciltsa.events/5th-ciltsa-esg-conference/