Family Ownership, Board Characteristics, and Environmental Disclosure: Evidence from Selected European Countries

This study investigates the influence of family ownership and board characteristics on the level of environmental disclosure among European firms. Using panel data from 76 companies listed on Euronext between 2019 and 2023, and applying a fixed-effects model, the analysis identifies a significant positive relationship between family ownership and environmental disclosure, suggesting that greater family involvement enhances transparency in environmental reporting. Furthermore, the findings show that family-owned firms with larger boards tend to disclose less environmental information. In contrast, the presence of female board members is positively associated with improved disclosure practices, as is CEO duality. These results contribute to the literature on corporate governance and sustainability by highlighting how ownership structure and board composition influence environmental accountability.