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Low-carbon mutual funds

Author

Listed:
  • Ceccarelli, Marco
  • Ramelli, Stefano
  • Wagner, Alexander F.

Abstract

Climate change poses new challenges for portfolio management. In our not-yet-low carbon world, investors face a trade-off between minimizing their exposure to climate risks and maximizing the benefits of portfolio diversification. This paper investigates how investors and financial intermediaries navigate this trade-off. After the release of Morningstar's novel carbon risk metrics in April 2018, mutual funds labeled as ``low carbon'' experienced a significant increase in investor demand, especially those with high risk-adjusted returns. Fund managers actively reduced their exposure to firms with high carbon risk scores, especially stocks with returns that correlated more with the funds' portfolios and were thus less useful for diversification. These findings shed light on whether and how climate-related information can re-orient capital flows in a low carbon direction.

Suggested Citation

  • Ceccarelli, Marco & Ramelli, Stefano & Wagner, Alexander F., 2022. "Low-carbon mutual funds," CEPR Discussion Papers 13599, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:13599
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • G02 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Behavioral Finance: Underlying Principles
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors

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