HETEROGENEOUS RESPONSES OF COMMERCIAL BANKS TO VARIOUS CLIMATE RISKS: EVIDENCE FROM 42 A-SHARE LISTED BANKS IN CHINA

Abstract

Financial supervisors across the world recognize the threats posed by climate change. This research aims to examine the immediate impact of climate risks on bank returns using an event study methodology, with data from 42 A-share listed banks in China spanning the years 2012–2022. The findings reveal a delayed effect of climate risks on commercial banks. Hydrological disasters such as floods significantly reduce the returns of large state-owned, national joint-stock, and city commercial banks. Additionally, the launch of China’s carbon emissions trading market leads to a short-term decline in returns for national joint-stock banks, while rising loan exposure and weakening market sensitivity (MS), induced by climate change, reduce the returns of commercial banks. However, bolstering credit risk management proves effective in enhancing profitability. This study provides insights at the market level into the financial implications of climate change for banking institutions, supplementing existing evidence.