A new study in the journal Social Science Research observes that, “Controlling for other factors, in nations where women’s status is higher, CO2 emissions are lower.” Christina Ergas and Richard York, sociologists at the University of Oregon–Eugene, found that the nations in which women have higher political status—based on how long they’ve had the right to vote and representation in parliament and ministerial governments—also have more ecologically sound outcomes than those that do not. Such outcomes included ratifying a greater number of environmental treaties, more scientific knowledge of climate change, a perception of environmental risks as more threatening and less optimism about the potential to solve problems by relying solely on technology.

Source: Grist.org