Research Seminar on Sustainable Development
On August 26, 2025, the Departments of Banking and Finance, and Accounting at the Faculty of Administrative Sciences and Economics hosted a research seminar delivered by Dr. Hussaini Bala. The presentation explored the critical relationship between Environmental, Social, and Governance practices, corporate carbon emissions, and board gender diversity, addressing Sustainable Development Goals 5 (Gender Equality) and 13 (Climate Action).
Key Research Findings
ESG Integration Impact
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Companies with stronger ESG practices demonstrate consistently lower carbon footprints
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Comprehensive environmental performance improvements across organizational operations
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Strategic alignment between sustainability practices and emission reduction
Board Gender Diversity Effects
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Gender-diverse boards enable broader perspective integration
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Enhanced inclusive decision-making processes
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Improved identification of environmental risks and opportunities
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Stronger stakeholder orientation and long-term strategic thinking
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Better alignment with environmental investment priorities
Empirical Evidence
Emission Reduction Performance
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Scope 1 Emissions: Significant reductions in direct operational emissions
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Scope 2 Emissions: Measurable improvements in indirect energy emissions
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Scope 3 Emissions: Most substantial impact on value chain emissions
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Comprehensive carbon footprint reduction across all emission categories
Critical Distinctions
Tokenistic vs. Substantive Representation
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Token Representation: Limited impact with symbolic female appointments
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Substantive Inclusion: Meaningful representation (minimum 30% board seats)
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Influential Positions: Women occupying key committee roles
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Full Participation: Genuine integration in board decision-making
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Cognitive Diversity: Essential for shifting board dynamics and outcomes
Practical Implications
The seminar highlighted important considerations for:
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Policy Design: Effective corporate governance regulations
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Board Composition: Strategic approaches to diversity implementation
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ESG Outcomes: Translation of diversity into environmental performance
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Corporate Practices: Sustainable governance implementation
Interactive Discussion
The presentation was followed by engaging dialogue addressing:
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Cross-cultural applicability of research findings
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Challenges in recruiting qualified female board members
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Implementation timelines for board composition changes
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Measurement of environmental improvement outcomes
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Practical barriers to substantive gender inclusion
This research seminar significantly advanced understanding of the governance-sustainability nexus, providing actionable insights for enhancing both gender equity and environmental performance in corporate organizations.
Keywords: ESG Integration, Board Gender Diversity, Carbon Emissions, Sustainable Development Goals, Corporate Governance, Environmental Performance, Climate Action, Gender Equality, Sustainable Business
