IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jbuset/v195y2024i4d10.1007_s10551-024-05675-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Boardroom Diversity and Carbon Emissions: Evidence from the UK Firms

Author

Listed:
  • Ishwar Khatri

    (Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU))

Abstract

This study provides comprehensive evidence on the link between boardroom diversity and reduction of carbon emissions. Analyzing data from a sample of 344 UK-listed non-financial and unregulated firms over the period from 2005 to 2021, our findings indicate that task-oriented (i.e., tenure) and structural (i.e., insider/outsider) board diversity are important for reducing corporate carbon emissions while relational diversity does not appear to be useful. Furthermore, the study explores the role of external carbon governance, such as the Paris Agreement, on firms with weaker internal governance structures. The findings reveal that external governance plays a critical role in curbing emissions when internal governance is not effective. Overall, our research offers valuable insights for management and regulatory bodies on the interplay between various governance mechanisms internal and external to a firm. This knowledge could guide them in determining the right mix and degree of diversity in the boardroom to achieve environmental goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Ishwar Khatri, 2024. "Boardroom Diversity and Carbon Emissions: Evidence from the UK Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 195(4), pages 899-920, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:195:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-024-05675-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-024-05675-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10551-024-05675-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10551-024-05675-2?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. van den Oever, Koen & Beerens, Bart, 2021. "Does task-related conflict mediate the board gender diversity–organizational performance relationship?," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 445-455.
    2. Monasterolo, Irene & de Angelis, Luca, 2020. "Blind to carbon risk? An analysis of stock market reaction to the Paris Agreement," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    3. Harjoto, Maretno A. & Laksmana, Indrarini & Yang, Ya-wen, 2018. "Board diversity and corporate investment oversight," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 40-47.
    4. Fathia Elleuch Lahyani, 2022. "Corporate board diversity and carbon disclosure: evidence from France," Accounting Research Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 35(6), pages 721-736, May.
    5. Aggarwal, Raj & Jindal, Varun & Seth, Rama, 2019. "Board diversity and firm performance: The role of business group affiliation," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(6), pages 1-1.
    6. Azar, José & Duro, Miguel & Kadach, Igor & Ormazabal, Gaizka, 2021. "The Big Three and corporate carbon emissions around the world," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(2), pages 674-696.
    7. Downar, Benedict & Ernstberger, Jürgen & Reichelstein, Stefan & Schwenen, Sebastian & Zaklan, Aleksandar, 2021. "The impact of carbon disclosure mandates on emissions and financial operating performance," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 26(3), pages 1137-1175.
    8. Ji, Jiao & Peng, Hongfeng & Sun, Hanwen & Xu, Haofeng, 2021. "Board tenure diversity, culture and firm risk: Cross-country evidence," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    9. Trang Cam Hoang & Indra Abeysekera & Shiguang Ma, 2018. "Board Diversity and Corporate Social Disclosure: Evidence from Vietnam," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 151(3), pages 833-852, September.
    10. Steven Young, 2000. "The Increasing Use of Non-Executive Directors: Its Impact on UK Board Structure and Governance Arrangements," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(9&10), pages 1311-1342.
    11. Haque, Faizul, 2017. "The effects of board characteristics and sustainable compensation policy on carbon performance of UK firms," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 347-364.
    12. Amy J. Hillman & Gavin Nicholson & Christine Shropshire, 2008. "Directors' Multiple Identities, Identification, and Board Monitoring and Resource Provision," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 19(3), pages 441-456, June.
    13. Mark R. Huson & Robert Parrino & Laura T. Starks, 2001. "Internal Monitoring Mechanisms and CEO Turnover: A Long‐Term Perspective," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 56(6), pages 2265-2297, December.
    14. repec:hal:journl:hal-02311932 is not listed on IDEAS
    15. Zhang, Zehua & Zhao, Ran, 2022. "Carbon emission and credit default swaps," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    16. F. Arnaboldi & B. Casu & E. Kalotychou & A. Sarkisyan, 2020. "The performance effects of board heterogeneity: what works for EU banks?," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(10), pages 897-924, July.
    17. Homroy, Swarnodeep, 2023. "GHG emissions and firm performance: The role of CEO gender socialization," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    18. Roberto Mura, 2007. "Firm Performance: Do Non‐Executive Directors Have Minds of their Own? Evidence from UK Panel Data," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 36(3), pages 81-112, September.
    19. Ibrahim, Boulis Maher & Kalaitzoglou, Iordanis Angelos, 2016. "Why do carbon prices and price volatility change?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 76-94.
    20. Pornsit Jiraporn & Napatsorn Jiraporn & Adisak Boeprasert & Kiyoung Chang, 2014. "Does Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Improve Credit Ratings? Evidence from Geographic Identification," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 43(3), pages 505-531, September.
    21. Ashrafee Hossain & Samir Saadi & Abu S. Amin, 2023. "Does CEO Risk-Aversion Affect Carbon Emission?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(4), pages 1171-1198, February.
    22. Giovanna Michelon & Saverio Bozzolan & Sergio Beretta, 2015. "Board monitoring and internal control system disclosure in different regulatory environments," Journal of Applied Accounting Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 16(1), pages 138-164, May.
    23. Dodd, Olga & Frijns, Bart & Garel, Alexandre, 2022. "Cultural diversity among directors and corporate social responsibility," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    24. Swarnodeep Homroy & Aurelie Slechten, 2019. "Do Board Expertise and Networked Boards Affect Environmental Performance?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(1), pages 269-292, August.
    25. Wintoki, M. Babajide & Linck, James S. & Netter, Jeffry M., 2012. "Endogeneity and the dynamics of internal corporate governance," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(3), pages 581-606.
    26. Talavera, Oleksandr & Yin, Shuxing & Zhang, Mao, 2018. "Age diversity, directors' personal values, and bank performance," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 60-79.
    27. Mehdi Nekhili & Héla Chakroun & Tawhid Chtioui, 2018. "Women’s Leadership and Firm Performance: Family Versus Nonfamily Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(2), pages 291-316, December.
    28. Kreuzer, Christian & Priberny, Christopher, 2022. "To green or not to green: The influence of board characteristics on carbon emissions," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    29. Alam, Md Samsul & Safiullah, Md & Islam, Md Shahidul, 2022. "Cash-rich firms and carbon emissions," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    30. Khine Kyaw & Sirimon Treepongkaruna & Pornsit Jiraporn, 2022. "Board gender diversity and environmental emissions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 2871-2881, November.
    31. Na Li & Aida Sijamic Wahid, 2018. "Director Tenure Diversity and Board Monitoring Effectiveness," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(3), pages 1363-1394, September.
    32. Martin Kyere & Marcel Ausloos, 2021. "Corporate governance and firms financial performance in the United Kingdom," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(2), pages 1871-1885, April.
    33. Mohammad Badrul Muttakin & Tarek Rana & Dessalegn Getie Mihret, 2022. "Democracy, national culture and greenhouse gas emissions: An international study," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 2978-2991, November.
    34. Jinhua Cui & Hoje Jo & Haejung Na, 2018. "Does Corporate Social Responsibility Affect Information Asymmetry?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(3), pages 549-572, March.
    35. Majdi Ben Selma & Wenxi Yan & Taïeb Hafsi, 2022. "Board demographic diversity, institutional context and corporate philanthropic giving," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 26(1), pages 99-127, March.
    36. Qian, Wei & Schaltegger, Stefan, 2017. "Revisiting carbon disclosure and performance: Legitimacy and management views," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(4), pages 365-379.
    37. Suparatana Tanthanongsakkun & Sirimon Treepongkaruna & Pornsit Jiraporn, 2023. "Carbon emissions, corporate governance, and staggered boards," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 769-780, January.
    38. Kabir, Md Nurul & Rahman, Sohanur & Rahman, Md Arifur & Anwar, Mumtaheena, 2021. "Carbon emissions and default risk: International evidence from firm-level data," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    39. Yu, Jian & Liu, Peng & Fu, Dahai & Shi, Xunpeng, 2023. "How do power shortages affect CO2 emission intensity? Firm-level evidence from China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    40. Charlie Weir & David Laing & Phillip J. McKnight, 2002. "Internal and External Governance Mechanisms: Their Impact on the Performance of Large UK Public Companies," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5&6), pages 579-611.
    41. Liao, Lin & Luo, Le & Tang, Qingliang, 2015. "Gender diversity, board independence, environmental committee and greenhouse gas disclosure," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 409-424.
    42. Nooraisah Katmon & Zam Zuriyati Mohamad & Norlia Mat Norwani & Omar Al Farooque, 2019. "Comprehensive Board Diversity and Quality of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure: Evidence from an Emerging Market," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(2), pages 447-481, June.
    43. Charlie Weir & David Laing & Phillip J. McKnight, 2002. "Internal and External Governance Mechanisms: Their Impact on the Performance of Large UK Public Companies," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5‐6), pages 579-611.
    44. Boulis Maher Ibrahim & Iordanis Angelos Kalaitzoglou, 2016. "Why do carbon prices and price volatility change?," Post-Print hal-01267062, HAL.
    45. John, Kose & Senbet, Lemma W., 1998. "Corporate governance and board effectiveness1," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 371-403, May.
    46. Rania Beji & Ouidad Yousfi & Nadia Loukil & Abdelwahed Omri, 2021. "Board Diversity and Corporate Social Responsibility: Empirical Evidence from France," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 173(1), pages 133-155, September.
    47. Christine A. Mallin & Giovanna Michelon, 2011. "Board reputation attributes and corporate social performance: an empirical investigation of the US Best Corporate Citizens," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(2), pages 119-144, June.
    48. David A. Carter & Betty J. Simkins & W. Gary Simpson, 2003. "Corporate Governance, Board Diversity, and Firm Value," The Financial Review, Eastern Finance Association, vol. 38(1), pages 33-53, February.
    49. Mohammed Benlemlih & Ç.V. Yavaş, 2023. "Economic Policy Uncertainty and Climate Change: Evidence from CO2 Emission," Post-Print hal-04434021, HAL.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mustafa K. Yilmaz & Umit Hacioglu & Ekrem Tatoglu & Mine Aksoy & Selman Duran, 2023. "Measuring the impact of board gender and cultural diversity on corporate governance and social performance: evidence from emerging markets," Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(2), pages 2106503-210, December.
    2. Ding Ning & Irfan-Ullah & Muhammad Ansar Majeed & Aurang Zeb, 2022. "Board diversity and financial statement comparability: evidence from China," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 12(4), pages 743-801, December.
    3. Dewan Muktadir‐Al‐Mukit & Firoz Haroon Bhaiyat, 2024. "Impact of corporate governance diversity on carbon emission under environmental policy via the mandatory nonfinancial reporting regulation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 1397-1417, February.
    4. Ayman Issa & Mohammad A. A. Zaid & Jalal Rajeh Hanaysha, 2022. "Exploring the relationship between female director's profile and sustainability performance: Evidence from the Middle East," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(6), pages 1980-2002, September.
    5. Mishra, Geeti & Patro, Archana & Tiwari, Aviral Kumar, 2024. "Does climate governance moderate the relationship between ESG reporting and firm value? Empirical evidence from India," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 920-941.
    6. Dongliang Yuan & Duo Shang & Xinmei Wu, 2024. "Board diversity and stock price crash risk: exacerbate or mitigate," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    7. Asad, Muhammad & Akbar, Saeed & Li, Jing & Shah, Syed Zulfiqar Ali, 2023. "Board diversity and corporate propensity to R&D spending," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    8. Alharbi, Rana & Elnahass, Marwa & McLaren, Josie, 2022. "Women directors and market valuation: What are the “Wonder Woman” attributes in banking?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    9. Nurshahirah Abd Majid & Amar Hisham Jaaffar, 2023. "The Effect of Women’s Leadership on Carbon Disclosure by the Top 100 Global Energy Leaders," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-26, May.
    10. Jonathan Taglialatela & Ivan Miroshnychenko & Roberto Barontini & Francesco Testa, 2024. "Talk or walk? The board of directors and firm environmental strategies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 2890-2910, May.
    11. Beloskar, Ved Dilip & Haldar, Arunima & Gupta, Anupama, 2024. "Gender equality and women’s empowerment: A bibliometric review of the literature on SDG 5 through the management lens," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    12. Ardianto Ardianto & Nadia Anridho & Suham Cahyono & Abu Hanifah Md. Noman Alam & Iman Harymawan, 2024. "The role of risk management committee on the relationship between corporate carbon emission disclosure and capital structure," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 2127-2158, May.
    13. Provaty, Sagira Sultana & Hasan, Mostafa Monzur & Luo, Le, 2024. "Organization capital and GHG emissions," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    14. Rita Wijayanti & Doddy Setiawan, 2024. "The Nexus Between Board Diversity and Sustainability Reporting: The Moderating Role of Supervisory Effectiveness and Quality in a Two-Tier Board System," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(3), pages 21582440241, July.
    15. Ayman Issa, 2023. "Shaping a sustainable future: The impact of board gender diversity on clean energy use and the moderating role of environmental, social and governance controversies," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(6), pages 2731-2746, November.
    16. Li, Panni & Lin, Zhongguo & Peng, Binbin & Du, Huibin, 2023. "Do CEOs’ social networks affect carbon emissions in China? The moderating role of CEO reputation," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 1122-1137.
    17. Ayman Issa & Mohammad A. A. Zaid, 2023. "Firm's biodiversity initiatives disclosure and board gender diversity: A multi‐country analysis of corporations operating in Europe," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4991-5007, November.
    18. Naeem Tabassum & Satwinder Singh, 2020. "Corporate Governance and Organisational Performance," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-030-48527-6, April.
    19. Um‐E‐Roman Fayyaz & Raja Nabeel‐Ud‐Din Jalal & Michelina Venditti & Antonio Minguez‐Vera, 2023. "Diverse boards and firm performance: The role of environmental, social and governance disclosure," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(3), pages 1457-1472, May.
    20. Patrick Velte, 2024. "Sustainable board governance and environmental performance: European evidence," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 3397-3421, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:195:y:2024:i:4:d:10.1007_s10551-024-05675-2. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.