Corporate environmental disclosure and gender diversity on boards: evidence from Gulf Cooperation Council countries

Purpose This study aims to investigate the relationship between environmental disclosure and the representation of women on corporate boards, positing that increasing the number of women on boards enhances decision-making and strengthens the focus on environmental issues. This study also sheds some light on the role of female directors’ proportion in influencing the environmental disclosure. Additionally, this study examines the role of family ownership in influencing the connection between gender diversity on boards and environmental disclosure. Design/methodology/approach The current study included data from nonfinancial listed firms in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries from 2011 to 2022. The data were collected manually from firms’ annual reports. The environmental disclosure proxy comprised of 55 environmental components included in a checklist. Fixed effect regression was applied to investigate this relationship. Robustness tests were done to make sure that the main regression findings are reliable. Findings The findings highlight the significant contribution of women to enhancing corporate environmental reporting transparency. Conversely, there is no discernible effect on environmental disclosure from the need to reach a critical mass, which includes at least 30% of female directors. Also, family ownership had a substantial influence on the link between environmental disclosure and female directors. Practical implications Many countries closely monitor key social and environmental issues, such as the percentage of women in prominent corporate roles. The study’s findings are crucial for lawmakers and investors to comprehend the implications of raising the percentage of female directors and tackling and resolving environmental issues. Originality/value While previous research has extensively explored corporate social responsibility and environmental, social and governance concerns, there has been limited focus on the link between women’s presence on corporate boards and environmental information disclosure. This research addresses a relatively unexplored topic, particularly in the GCC region.