IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v12y2025i1d10.1057_s41599-025-05109-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Band together or go it alone? Climate risk and corporate collaborative innovation

Author

Listed:
  • Qiuyue Zhang

    (Beijing University of Technology)

  • Yili Lin

    (University of Jinan)

  • Yueying Wang

    (Beijing University of Technology)

  • Yu Cao

    (Renmin University of China)

Abstract

Corporations are under increasing pressure to adapt their strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of climate risk. This study explores the theoretical and empirical relationship between climate risk and corporate collaborative innovation, highlighting the mechanisms involved. Theoretical analysis suggests that climate risk, by intensifying stranded assets and cross-risks, acts as a compensatory driver for collaborative innovation among corporations. Digital transformation strengthens this compensatory mechanism, while corporate risk-taking diminishes its impact. Empirical analysis using data from Chinese A-share listed companies supports the theoretical framework, revealing that climate risk compels companies to “band together” for technological advancement to manage external challenges. The mediating effect of digital transformation enhances the flow of innovation elements among firms, bolstering collaborative innovation, whereas risk-taking weakens this effect. This paper deepens the understanding of how climate risk shapes corporate strategy. It provides practical insights for corporate strategists seeking collaborative responses to environmental volatility and supports policymakers in designing sustainability-oriented policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Qiuyue Zhang & Yili Lin & Yueying Wang & Yu Cao, 2025. "Band together or go it alone? Climate risk and corporate collaborative innovation," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-05109-y
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-025-05109-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-025-05109-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-025-05109-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zacharias Sautner & Laurence Van Lent & Grigory Vilkov & Ruishen Zhang, 2023. "Firm‐Level Climate Change Exposure," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 78(3), pages 1449-1498, June.
    2. Lily H. Fang & Josh Lerner & Chaopeng Wu, 2017. "Intellectual Property Rights Protection, Ownership, and Innovation: Evidence from China," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 30(7), pages 2446-2477.
    3. Ozdemir, Sena & Kandemir, Destan & Eng, Teck-Yong & Gupta, Suraksha, 2020. "Vertical stakeholder collaborations for firm innovativeness in new product development: The moderating roles of legal bonds and operational linkages," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 172-184.
    4. Ma, Rufei & Fu, Xinxin & Ji, Qiang & Zhai, Pengxiang, 2024. "Do climate-exposed firms hold more cash? Global evidence," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    5. Bolton, Patrick & Kacperczyk, Marcin, 2021. "Do investors care about carbon risk?," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(2), pages 517-549.
    6. Huang-Ping Yen & Xiaotong Yue & Kung-Cheng Ho & Xiaoran Kong, 2024. "Fact Or Fiction? €” Climate Change Risk And Trade Credit," Climate Change Economics (CCE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 15(04), pages 1-29, November.
    7. Boubakri, Narjess & Cosset, Jean-Claude & Saffar, Walid, 2013. "The role of state and foreign owners in corporate risk-taking: Evidence from privatization," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(3), pages 641-658.
    8. Yuqin Zhou & Shan Wu & Zhenhua Liu & Lavinia Rognone, 2023. "The asymmetric effects of climate risk on higher-moment connectedness among carbon, energy and metals markets," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, December.
    9. Emanuele Campiglio & Yannis Dafermos & Pierre Monnin & Josh Ryan-Collins & Guido Schotten & Misa Tanaka, 2018. "Climate change challenges for central banks and financial regulators," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(6), pages 462-468, June.
    10. Zobel, Ann-Kristin & Lokshin, Boris & Hagedoorn, John, 2017. "Formal and informal appropriation mechanisms: The role of openness and innovativeness," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 44-54.
    11. Ozdemir, Sena & Carlos Fernandez de Arroyabe, Juan & Sena, Vania & Gupta, Suraksha, 2023. "Stakeholder diversity and collaborative innovation: Integrating the resource-based view with stakeholder theory," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    12. A. M. Valkengoed & G. Perlaviciute & L. Steg, 2022. "Relationships between climate change perceptions and climate adaptation actions: policy support, information seeking, and behaviour," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 171(1), pages 1-20, March.
    13. Fu, Shaoyan & Liu, Dehai & Huang, Fuqiang, 2024. "Synergistic effect of government policy and market mechanism on the innovation of new energy vehicle enterprises," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    14. Shouwei Li & Xin Wu, 2023. "How does climate risk affect bank loan supply? Empirical evidence from China," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(4), pages 2169-2204, August.
    15. Don Grant & Tyler Hansen & Andrew Jorgenson & Wesley Longhofer, 2024. "A worldwide analysis of stranded fossil fuel assets’ impact on power plants’ CO2 emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    16. Ren, Xiaohang & An, Yaning & Jin, Chenglu & Yan, Cheng, 2024. "Weathering the policy storm: How climate strategy volatility shapes corporate total factor productivity," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    17. Yogeeswari Subramaniam & Nanthakumar Loganathan, 2022. "Uncertainty and technological innovation: evidence from developed and developing countries," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 55(4), pages 2527-2545, November.
    18. Nakhli, Mohamed Sahbi & Gaies, Brahim & Hemrit, Wael & Sahut, Jean-Michel, 2024. "Twenty-year tango: Exploring the reciprocal influence of macro-financial instability and climate risks," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 717-731.
    19. Qiuyue Zhang & Yili Lin & Yu Cao, 2024. "From Financialization to Sustainability: The Impact of Climate Risks on Shadow Banking Activities in Non-Financial Firms in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-20, October.
    20. Huynh, Thanh D. & Nguyen, Thu Ha & Truong, Cameron, 2020. "Climate risk: The price of drought," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    21. Wenna Wang & Zhen Yang & Jin Chen & Jun He, 2024. "Economic policy uncertainty and enterprise ambidextrous innovation: Exploration or exploitation?," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(4), pages 1234-1258, August.
    22. Liu, Yishuang & Dong, Hanmin & Wang, Yueyang, 2025. "In the same boat: Climate risk and hidden debt in the supply chain," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    23. Lingzhi Chen & Yanyan Ma & Yutao Sun, 2024. "The role of intellectual property on Enterprise-led Industry-University-Research Institution cooperation: case of innovation awards in China," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-14, December.
    24. Pengxiang Zhai & Ying Fan & Qiang Ji & Yan-Ran Ma, 2024. "Climate Risks And Financial Markets: A Review Of The Literature," Climate Change Economics (CCE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 15(04), pages 1-25, November.
    25. Le, Anh-Tuan & Tran, Thao Phuong & Mishra, Anil V., 2023. "Climate risk and bank stability: International evidence," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 70.
    26. Xiaolan Fu & Wing Thye Woo & Jun Hou, 2016. "Technological innovation policy in China: the lessons, and the necessary changes ahead," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 49(2), pages 139-157, August.
    27. Xie, Xuemei & Liu, Xiaojie & Chen, Jialing, 2023. "A meta-analysis of the relationship between collaborative innovation and innovation performance: The role of formal and informal institutions," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    28. Li, Guangchen & Wei, Weixian, 2021. "Financial development, openness, innovation, carbon emissions, and economic growth in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    29. Boyer, Marcel & Robert, Jacques, 2006. "Organizational inertia and dynamic incentives," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 59(3), pages 324-348, March.
    30. Weihua Su & Zhen Wang & Chonghui Zhang & Tomas Balezentis, 2023. "Determinants of the innovation efficiency of strategic emerging enterprises: evidence from the robust frontiers," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1433-1465, June.
    31. Faccini, Renato & Matin, Rastin & Skiadopoulos, George, 2023. "Dissecting climate risks: Are they reflected in stock prices?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    32. Ren, Xiaohang & Li, Wenqi & Duan, Kun & Urquhart, Andrew, 2025. "Carbon risk and debt financing: An international perspective," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. He, Feng & Ren, Xingzi & Wang, Yueren & Lei, Xingfan, 2025. "Climate risk and corporate bond credit spreads," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    2. Owusu, Freeman Brobbey & Abdullah, Mohammad & Lee, Chi-Chuan & Gyeke-Dako, Agyapomaa, 2025. "Firm carbon risk exposure and financial stability," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    3. Hoang, Khanh & Pham, Linh & Ha, Oanh Kieu & Nghiem, Hoa Xuan, 2025. "Firm-level climate change exposure and firm efficiency," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    4. Emanuele Campiglio & Jérôme Deyris & Davide Romelli & Ginevra Scalisi, 2025. "Warning words in a warming world: central bank communication and climate change," Working Papers hal-04978072, HAL.
    5. Md Lutfur Rahman & Sudipta Bose, 2025. "Firm-level Climate Vulnerability and Corporate Risk-taking: International Evidence," Working Papers DP-2024-36, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
    6. Duan, Dingkang & Wei, Ran & Wang, Chao & Xia, Bingyu, 2025. "Opportunity or obstacle? Climate risk disclosure and corporate ESG performance," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    7. Benkraiem, Ramzi & Dimic, Nebojsa & Piljak, Vanja & Swinkels, Laurens & Vulanovic, Milos, 2025. "Media-based climate risks and international corporate bond market," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    8. Zhou, Qi & Ni, Jiajun & Yang, Cunyi, 2025. "Climate transition risk and industry returns: The impact of green innovation and carbon market uncertainty," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    9. Li, Wanli & Luo, Dan & Cheng, Teng-Yuan, 2025. "Strategy choices in strategic risk-taking: Does climate risk matter?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    10. Chen, Yiyang & Mamon, Rogemar & Spagnolo, Fabio & Spagnolo, Nicola, 2025. "Stock market returns and climate risk in the U.S," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    11. Zhou, Mingtao & Ma, Yong, 2025. "Climate risk and predictability of global stock market volatility," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    12. Kuang, Wei, 2025. "A tale of two risks: Differential diversification roles of clean energy sector stocks in physical and transition climate risk management," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    13. Deng, Qu & Huang, Garland & Li, Donghui & Yang, Shijie, 2024. "The impact of climate risk on corporate innovation: An international comparison," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    14. Ye, Liping, 2022. "The effect of climate news risk on uncertainties," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    15. Venturini, Alessio, 2022. "Climate change, risk factors and stock returns: A review of the literature," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    16. Adhikari, Hari P. & More, Deepak G. & Sah, Nilesh B., 2025. "Climate change exposure and short-termism: Evidence from net trade credit," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    17. Zhu, Wenqiang & Li, Shouwei & Su, Hongyu & Yang, Sitong, 2025. "Identification of systemic financial risks: The role of climate risks," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    18. Siamak Javadi & Abdullah‐Al Masum & Mohsen Aram & Ramesh P. Rao, 2023. "Climate change and corporate cash holdings: Global evidence," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 52(2), pages 253-295, June.
    19. Costola, Michele & Vozian, Katia, 2025. "Pricing climate transition risk: Evidence from European corporate CDS," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    20. Kun Wang & Bing Chen & Yuhong Li, 2024. "Technological, process or managerial innovation? How does digital transformation affect green innovation in industrial enterprises?," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 57(1), pages 1-32, February.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:12:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-025-05109-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.com/palcomms/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.