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The Potential Contribution of Central Banks to Green Finance

Author

Listed:
  • Andreas Breitenfellner
  • Wolfgang Pointner
  • Helene Schuberth

Abstract

Central banks and financial supervisors approach ‘green finance’ mostly to preserve macroeconomic and financial stability according to their mandates. Obviously, climate change poses severe risks to households, firms and their financial intermediaries. These risks tend to be correlated and their scope goes beyond historical evidence, therefore their impact on the financial system is difficult to model. On the other hand, the planned decarbonization of the global economy creates enormous investment opportunities. Central banks and supervisors play a role in safeguarding the financial system’s smooth transformation from funding old, brown industries to funding a new green economy. The ‘Network for Greening the Financial System’ facilitates an exchange of experience and ideas among central banks and financial supervisors; we present some of their findings. While central banks can and should contribute to making the economy and the financial system more sustainable, they can only complement, but not substitute for, decisive political action by governments. Zentralbanken und Finanzaufsichtsbehörden haben beim Thema „Green Finance“ vor allem die makroökonomische und finanzielle Stabilität im Sinne ihrer Mandate im Blickpunkt. Denn einerseits birgt der Klimawandel erhebliche Risiken für Haushalte, Unternehmen und deren Finanzintermediäre. Diese Risiken sind in der Regel korreliert und ihr Umfang geht über historische Erfahrungswerte hinaus. Daher sind ihre Auswirkungen auf das Finanzsystem schwer zu modellieren. Andererseits schafft die geplante Dekarbonisierung der Weltwirtschaft enorme Investitionsmöglichkeiten. Zentralbanken und Aufsichtsbehörden können zur reibungslosen Umstellung des Finanzsystems zur Finanzierung einer neuen „grünen“ Wirtschaft statt alter, „brauner“ Industrien beitragen. Das „Network for Greening the Financial System“ erleichtert den Erfahrungs- und Ideenaustausch zwischen Zentralbanken und Finanzaufsichtsbehörden. Wir präsentieren hier einige ihrer Erkenntnisse. Trotz ihrer wichtigen Rolle bei der nachhaltigen Gestaltung der Wirtschaft und des Finanzsystems können Zentralbanken entschlossenes politisches Handeln der Regierungen nur ergänzen, nicht jedoch ersetzen.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Breitenfellner & Wolfgang Pointner & Helene Schuberth, 2019. "The Potential Contribution of Central Banks to Green Finance," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 88(2), pages 55-71.
    • Handle: RePEc:diw:diwvjh:88-2-5
    DOI: 10.3790/vjh.88.2.55
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Sheng Hu & Pan Zhang & Taoyuan Wei, 2022. "Financial Measures to Reduce Carbon Emissions in Britain, Japan and the United States: A SWOT Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-18, August.
    3. Braga, Joao Paulo & Chen, Pu & Semmler, Willi, 2025. "Central banks, climate risks, and energy transition—a dynamic macro model and econometric evidence," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 29, pages 1-1, January.
    4. Peter Breyer & Eleonora Endlich & Dieter Huber & Doris Oswald & Christoph Prenner & Lukas Reiss & Martin Schneider & Walter Waschiczek, 2021. "Corporate equity finance in Austria – impediments and possible improvements," Monetary Policy & the Economy, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue Q3/21, pages 39-57.
    5. Andreas Breitenfellner & Susanne Hasenhüttl & Georg Lehmann & Andreas Tschulik, 2020. "Green finance – opportunities for the Austrian financial sector," Financial Stability Report, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue 40.
    6. Fushuai Wang & Wenxia Cai & Ehsan Elahi, 2021. "Do Green Finance and Environmental Regulation Play a Crucial Role in the Reduction of CO 2 Emissions? An Empirical Analysis of 126 Chinese Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-20, November.
    7. Liebich, Lena & Nöh, Lukas & Rutkowski, Felix Joachim & Schwarz, Milena, 2021. "Unconventionally green: A monetary policy between engagement and conflicting goals," Working Papers 05/2021, German Council of Economic Experts / Sachverständigenrat zur Begutachtung der gesamtwirtschaftlichen Entwicklung.
    8. K. Mukherjee & B. Ouattara, 2021. "Climate and monetary policy: do temperature shocks lead to inflationary pressures?," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 167(3), pages 1-21, August.
    9. Marcinkowska, Monika & Brzeszczyński, Janusz & Charteris, Ailie & Gajdka, Jerzy & Obojska, Lidia & Szczygielski, Jan Jakub, 2025. "Sustainability, energy finance and the role of central banks: A review of current insights and future research directions," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    10. Konstantinos Bletsas & Georgios Oikonomou & Minas Panagiotidis & Eleftherios Spyromitros, 2022. "Carbon Dioxide and Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The Role of Monetary Policy, Fiscal Policy, and Institutional Quality," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-24, June.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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