Women CEOs Reduce Corporate Greenwashing

Women CEOs Reduce Corporate Greenwashing

The article reveals that ESG decoupling, where firms misrepresent their sustainability efforts, remains a pervasive corporate issue. It identifies women board members as key defenders against this greenwashing, leveraging their propensity to oppose unethical practices and prioritize environmental responsibility. Religiosity significantly modulates this dynamic, with female directors exerting stronger influence against decoupling in less religious countries. In highly religious societies, traditional gender norms often diminish women’s board impact, thereby weakening a critical mechanism for ensuring authentic ESG compliance. This highlights the complexity of combating greenwashing, as cultural and regulatory contexts dictate the effectiveness of diversity mandates. Consequently, existing ESG regulations are insufficient on their own, urging policymakers to address these underlying societal factors to enforce genuine corporate accountability.

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