Impacts of the Multiple Dimensions of Gender Inequality on the Environmental Performance : A Global Quantitative Analysis

Most previous works regarding the relationship between gender and the environment have focused on women's vulnerability (the patient approach). The few quantitative research papers adopting an agency approach have studied the effect of women’s political participation on female aggregate indices or on the reduction of environmental degradation. The present research focuses on the environmental quality aspect and adopts an agent perspective under the lens of both the Capability Approach and the Feminist Political Ecology. The objective of the article is to analyze the impacts of the multiple dimensions of gender inequality on environmental performance through a global-scale study. For this, the Environmental Performance Index, and gender disaggregated indicators from the United Nations related to longevity, education, income, politics, and labor participation were used. The effects of gender inequality and female and male advancements were analyzed. Covering 120 countries, our findings suggest that gender equality in education and politics are the most important allies of the environment. A focus on advancing women's longevity, education, and involvement in politics may be highly substantial, whereas, although the expectation of men living longer has a positive effect, increasing their (already disproportional) advantage in politics appears to be a significantly harmful factor