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From polluter pays to polluter reborn: Exploring the economic and green implications of corporate carbon risk exposure

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  • Tao, Miaomiao
  • Wu, Sihong

Abstract

Over the last decade, mounting environmental pressures have heightened the need to address carbon risks. We assess the dual impacts of carbon risk on firm performance, composed of productivity and green transition efforts. Our results reveal that carbon risk adversely affects corporate productivity (aligned with the “polluter pays” principle) but also incentivizes firms to advance their green innovation capabilities (reflecting a “polluter reborn” dynamic). Mechanism analysis indicates that concentrated supply chains and venture capital investments mitigate these effects, while the CEO's political ties amplify them. Additionally, firm characteristics (i.e., state ownership, pollution intensity) and city-level factors (i.e., environmental regulation pilots, resource-based city status) influence the outcomes of carbon risk exposure. We contribute to the literature and offer key policy insights for effective carbon reduction strategies.

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  • Tao, Miaomiao & Wu, Sihong, 2025. "From polluter pays to polluter reborn: Exploring the economic and green implications of corporate carbon risk exposure," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eneeco:v:144:y:2025:i:c:s0140988325001409
    DOI: 10.1016/j.eneco.2025.108317
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    1. Tao, Miaomiao & Wang, Jianda & Roubaud, David & Qi, Lingli, 2025. "Global reach, local impact: How China's outward foreign direct investment shapes corporate carbon risk management?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).

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