How does climate risk affect corporate innovation? Evidence from China

Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of climate risk on corporate innovation in China. Employing a city‐level climate risk indicator that we constructed and a sample of 21,430 firm‐year observations of Chinese‐listed companies, we find that climate risk is negatively associated with corporate innovation investment and outcome. These results are robust to alternative empirical designs and identifications. Our mechanism analyses reveal that climate risk impedes corporate innovation by motivating firms to increase cash holdings as financial reserves. Additional analyses suggest that the adverse impact of climate risk on corporate innovation is more pronounced for high‐tech firms, and less salient for firms with higher financial constraints and female Chairperson or CEO. Furthermore, the decrease in corporate innovation due to climate risk can lead to a reduction in firm value. These findings contribute to the existing literature on climate risk and corporate innovation and inform regulators and listed firms concerning climate risk.