Environmental deterioration caused by rising greenhouse gas emissions has prompted global efforts to promote sustainable development. This study aims to investigate the impact of board gender diversity on corporate greenhouse gas emissions, focusing on the United Kingdom and India, two contrasting economies in terms of institutional maturity, ESG reporting practices and gender diversity norms.
The study uses the generalized method of moments to analyze panel data from 2014–2023, enabling robust inference on the dynamic relationships between board gender diversity, ESG performance and emissions across differing institutional contexts.
The results reveal varying impacts across the two economies. In the UK, increased female board representation, when coupled with strong ESG performance, significantly reduces corporate emissions. In contrast, the effect is less pronounced in India, suggesting the influence of country-specific governance mechanisms, regulatory enforcement and sociocultural norms.
This study enriches the literature on corporate governance and sustainability by providing comparative evidence from developed and emerging economies. It offers actionable insights for policymakers and corporate leaders seeking to strengthen institutional support for gender-diverse leadership and its role in advancing climate goals.
