When is environmental performance most valued? International evidence from the CDS market

Using a sample of 516 firms with CDS data from 37 countries for the period 2010–2022, this study finds that companies with higher environmental performance, particularly in emissions reduction and product innovation, exhibit a reduction in credit risk, supporting the risk mitigation perspective. Our results also highlight the importance of considering both internal and external factors when assessing the financial impact of sustainability initiatives. Firms with initially lower environmental performance, less exposure to the environmental sector, and higher credit ratings experience a more significant reduction in credit risk as they improve their environmental performance. In addition, the CDS market places a higher value on environmental efforts for firms located in countries with lower environmental scores, credit ratings and GDP growth. Conversely, out findings support the overinvestment view for firms in sectors with high environmental risk exposure or in countries with poor climate change performance. Overall, the effect of a firm's environmental performance on credit risk is heterogeneous rather than uniform.