Do Board Characteristics Influence Carbon Disclosure? A Systematic and Meta‐Analytic Review

ABSTRACT This research uses meta‐analytical methods to systematically synthesise and quantitatively integrate prior studies linking board characteristics with voluntary carbon disclosure (VCD). The sample includes 54 empirical studies with 155 effect sizes and 403,855 firm‐year observations, which were carried out across 16 countries between 2010 and 2022. The authors apply advanced statistical techniques to summarise the sample studies' findings and examine potential moderators' impact on the primary relationship. Supporting the agency and resource dependency theories, the results show that independence, gender diversity and size are the most effective board qualities for ensuring VCD, with CEO duality having no influence. Additionally, the study demonstrates that board features substantially impact VCD in nations following common law and having an emission trading scheme (ETS). Our research contributes to the body of knowledge on carbon disclosure by providing new meta‐analytic evidence on the relationship between VCD and board measures. Our findings suggest policymakers should focus on institutional factors to attain carbon neutrality. There is future potential for meta‐analysis on how stakeholder pressures impact voluntary disclosures. In addition to the conventional board proxies considered in our analysis, researchers can empirically examine how culture, audit committee characteristics and climate governance affect VCD.