RT Article
T1 Board Gender Diversity and Corporate Response to Sustainability Initiatives: Evidence from the Carbon Disclosure Project
JF Journal of business ethics
VO 142
IS 2
SP 369
OP 383
A1 Ben-Amar, Walid
A1 Chang, Millicent
A1 McIlkenny, Philip
LA English
PB Springer Science + Business Media B. V
YR 2017
UL https://www.ixtheo.de/Record/178566090X
AB This paper investigates the effect of female representation on the board of directors on corporate response to stakeholders’ demands for increased public reporting about climate change-related risks. We rely on the Carbon Disclosure Project as a sustainability initiative supported by institutional investors. Greenhouse gas emissions measurement and its disclosure to investors can be thought of as a first step toward addressing climate change issues and reducing the firm’s carbon footprint. Based on a sample of publicly listed Canadian firms over the period 2008–2014, we find that the likelihood of voluntary climate change disclosure increases with women percentage on boards. We also find evidence that supports critical mass theory with regard to board gender diversity. These findings reinforce initiatives being undertaken around the world to promote gender diversity in corporate governance while demonstrating board effectiveness in stakeholder management.
K1 Board of directors
K1 Corporate Governance
K1 Gender diversity
K1 Greenhouse gas emissions
K1 Climate Change
K1 Sustainability disclosure
DO 10.1007/s10551-015-2759-1