Bridging the Gap: The Impact of Gender Equality on CO<sub>2</sub> Emissions Across Countries
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges to humanity, with carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) emissions being the primary driver. This study examined the relationship between gender equality, measured using the Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI), and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/6/1/26 |
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| author | Diana Sanchez-Olmedo Paula Ortiz-Yepez Marco Faytong-Haro |
| author_facet | Diana Sanchez-Olmedo Paula Ortiz-Yepez Marco Faytong-Haro |
| author_sort | Diana Sanchez-Olmedo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Climate change is one of the greatest challenges to humanity, with carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) emissions being the primary driver. This study examined the relationship between gender equality, measured using the Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI), and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions per capita across 49 countries over a 14-year period (2006–2020). Using a fixed-effects regression model, we controlled for structural, economic, and policy variables including population density, GDP per capita, urbanization rate, energy use, the stability of democratic institutions, and environmental policy stringency. Multiple imputations were applied to address missing data, and robustness checks were performed to confirm the validity of the findings. The results indicated that the GGGI is significantly negatively associated with CO<sub>2</sub> emissions per capita (β = −0.1403, <i>p</i> < 0.001), suggesting that a 1% improvement in the GGGI corresponds to a reduction of 0.14 metric tons in CO<sub>2</sub> emissions per capita. Population density and energy use were also significant predictors, whereas GDP per capita, urbanization rate, and environmental policy stringency showed weaker or non-significant associations. These findings underscore the potential of gender equality to enhance environmental sustainability by improving decision-making processes and policy implementation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7707793ce33b498f89b153fda718fb02 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2673-4060 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | World |
| spelling | doaj-art-7707793ce33b498f89b153fda718fb022025-08-20T02:43:05ZengMDPI AGWorld2673-40602025-02-01612610.3390/world6010026Bridging the Gap: The Impact of Gender Equality on CO<sub>2</sub> Emissions Across CountriesDiana Sanchez-Olmedo0Paula Ortiz-Yepez1Marco Faytong-Haro2School of International Studies, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Samborondon 0901952, EcuadorSchool of International Studies, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Samborondon 0901952, EcuadorSchool of International Studies, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Samborondon 0901952, EcuadorClimate change is one of the greatest challenges to humanity, with carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) emissions being the primary driver. This study examined the relationship between gender equality, measured using the Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI), and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions per capita across 49 countries over a 14-year period (2006–2020). Using a fixed-effects regression model, we controlled for structural, economic, and policy variables including population density, GDP per capita, urbanization rate, energy use, the stability of democratic institutions, and environmental policy stringency. Multiple imputations were applied to address missing data, and robustness checks were performed to confirm the validity of the findings. The results indicated that the GGGI is significantly negatively associated with CO<sub>2</sub> emissions per capita (β = −0.1403, <i>p</i> < 0.001), suggesting that a 1% improvement in the GGGI corresponds to a reduction of 0.14 metric tons in CO<sub>2</sub> emissions per capita. Population density and energy use were also significant predictors, whereas GDP per capita, urbanization rate, and environmental policy stringency showed weaker or non-significant associations. These findings underscore the potential of gender equality to enhance environmental sustainability by improving decision-making processes and policy implementation.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/6/1/26gender equalityCO<sub>2</sub> emissionsGlobal Gender Gap Indexfixed-effects regressionenvironmental sustainabilitypopulation density |
| spellingShingle | Diana Sanchez-Olmedo Paula Ortiz-Yepez Marco Faytong-Haro Bridging the Gap: The Impact of Gender Equality on CO<sub>2</sub> Emissions Across Countries World gender equality CO<sub>2</sub> emissions Global Gender Gap Index fixed-effects regression environmental sustainability population density |
| title | Bridging the Gap: The Impact of Gender Equality on CO<sub>2</sub> Emissions Across Countries |
| title_full | Bridging the Gap: The Impact of Gender Equality on CO<sub>2</sub> Emissions Across Countries |
| title_fullStr | Bridging the Gap: The Impact of Gender Equality on CO<sub>2</sub> Emissions Across Countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bridging the Gap: The Impact of Gender Equality on CO<sub>2</sub> Emissions Across Countries |
| title_short | Bridging the Gap: The Impact of Gender Equality on CO<sub>2</sub> Emissions Across Countries |
| title_sort | bridging the gap the impact of gender equality on co sub 2 sub emissions across countries |
| topic | gender equality CO<sub>2</sub> emissions Global Gender Gap Index fixed-effects regression environmental sustainability population density |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/6/1/26 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dianasanchezolmedo bridgingthegaptheimpactofgenderequalityoncosub2subemissionsacrosscountries AT paulaortizyepez bridgingthegaptheimpactofgenderequalityoncosub2subemissionsacrosscountries AT marcofaytongharo bridgingthegaptheimpactofgenderequalityoncosub2subemissionsacrosscountries |