Environmental Regulation and Access to Credit

Abstract

We show that climate priorities codified in regulations significantly impact firms’ access to credit, especially long‐term credit, an important financial resource required for achieving business viability and sustainability goals. Following the implementation of a prominent cap‐and‐trade programme aimed at controlling nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the United States (the NOx Budget Trading Program, NBP), manufacturers experienced decreased debt maturity structures, driven by reduced access to long‐maturity debt, but did not alter their use of short‐term debt or trade credit. The NBP's effect on long‐term credit is more pronounced for firms with higher degrees of electricity intensity, financial constraints, information frictions or rollover risk. It ultimately led to deteriorating firm value and operating performance. Increased energy costs and elevated operating leverage explain firms’ reduced access to long‐term credit. Our findings highlight the potential unintended consequences of policy instruments designed to boost a specific aspect of sustainability and the complex nature of managing corporate financial and sustainability goals.