Women Political Leaders as Agents of Environmental Change

Inés Berniell (), Mariana Marchionni, Julián Pedrazzi () and Mariana Viollaz ()
Additional contact information
Inés Berniell: University of La Plata
Julián Pedrazzi: Universidad Nacional de la Plata
Mariana Viollaz: CEDLAS-UNLP

No 17920, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper explores how female political leaders impact environmental outcomes and climate change policy actions using data from mixed-gender mayoral races in Brazil. Using a Regression Discontinuity design, we find that, compared to male mayors, female mayors significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This effect is driven by a reduction in emissions intensity (CO2e/GDP) in the Land Use sector, without changes in municipal economic activity. Part of the reduction in emissions in the Land Use sector is attributable to a decline in deforestation. We examine potential mechanisms that could explain the positive environmental impact of narrowly electing a female mayor over a male counterpart and find that in Amazon municipalities, female elected mayors allocate more space to the environment in their government proposals and are more likely to invest in environmental initiatives. Differences in the enforcement of environmental regulations do not explain the results.

Keywords: Brazil; Amazon; mayoral elections; climate change; gender; Latin America (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D72 J16 Q54 Q56 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-05
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