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Climate change and corporate credit worthiness: International evidence

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  • Nguyen, Harvey
  • Pham, Anh Viet
  • Pham, Man Duy (Marty)
  • Pham, Mia Hang

Abstract

This study examines how climate change risks affect corporate credit ratings worldwide. Using a comprehensive dataset of 4427 firms across 60 countries, we find that firms in countries more susceptible to climate change receive lower credit ratings. Such a negative relation ensues from inferior firm fundamentals, such as higher default risk and cash flow volatility associated with climate-change-related uncertainties. We also find that the adverse impact of climate change risks on credit ratings impedes firms' access to debt financing and increases the costs of holding credit default swaps. Further analyses reveal that institutional factors and market attention to climate change significantly shape rating agencies' responses to climate change risks.

Suggested Citation

  • Nguyen, Harvey & Pham, Anh Viet & Pham, Man Duy (Marty) & Pham, Mia Hang, 2025. "Climate change and corporate credit worthiness: International evidence," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:glofin:v:64:y:2025:i:c:s1044028324001455
    DOI: 10.1016/j.gfj.2024.101073
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    1. Petre Caraiani & Onur Polat & Rangan Gupta & Elie Bouri, 2025. "Climate Risks and Predictability of Financial Risks in the US Banking Sector," Working Papers 202507, University of Pretoria, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Climate change risk; Credit ratings; Debt market; Corporate default;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G17 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Financial Forecasting and Simulation
    • G33 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Bankruptcy; Liquidation
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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