While evidence suggests a strong positive cross-country correlation between women’s empowerment and progress on environmental and climate issues, the causal mechanisms remain unclear. This article critically examines the assumption that women’s empowerment drives climate action and environmental protection. By exploring possible causal channels and existing empirical evidence, we highlight the need to distinguish causality from correlation in this domain. We call for an exploration into whether advancements in women’s empowerment and environmental issues are determined by shared underlying factors connected to economic, political and institutional aspects. A more nuanced understanding of these complex interrelations is essential for developing effective and evidence-based environmental and gender policies.