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How effectively do green bonds help the environment?

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  • ElBannan, Mona A.
  • Löffler, Gunter

Abstract

We document a significantly negative relationship between the volume of issued green bonds and the future carbon intensity of non-financial corporates; this relationship is limited to firms with higher financial constraints and higher credit risk. The findings suggest that green bonds can help firms finance carbon reductions, but they also indicate that a considerable fraction of green bond financing does not lead to measurable benefits for the environment.

Suggested Citation

  • ElBannan, Mona A. & Löffler, Gunter, 2024. "How effectively do green bonds help the environment?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:158:y:2024:i:c:s0378426623002376
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2023.107051
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Martijn A. Boermans & Maurice Bun & Yasmine van der Straten, 2024. "Funding the Fittest? Pricing of Climate Transition Risk in the Corporate Bond Market," Working Papers 797, DNB.
    2. He, Ling & Dai, Peng-Fei & Hu, Shiyang & Gan, Shengdao, 2024. "Do green bond issuers walk the talk? Exploring the alignment between green bond issuance and subsequent green investment," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    3. Bongaerts, Dion & Schoenmaker, Dirk, 2024. "Liquidity and clientele effects in green debt markets," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Green bonds; Carbon emissions; Climate change; Sustainable finance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

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