Financial markets implications of the energy transition: carbon content of energy use in listed companies

Abstract

Decarbonization is often misunderstood in financial studies. Furthermore, its implications for investment opportunities and growth are even less known. The study investigates the link between energy indicators and Tobin's Quotient (TQ) in listed companies globally, finding that the carbon content of energy presents a negative yet modest effect on financial performance. Furthermore, we investigated the effect carbon prices in compliance markets have on TQ for exempted and non-exempt firms, finding that Energy efficiency measures yield greater effects in the latter group. Conversely, it is also true that carbon prices marginally reduce TQ more in non-exempt firms. This implies that auction-mechanisms create burdens that companies are eager to relinquish by reducing emissions. However, reducing GHG yields positive effects on TQ only as long as it results in energy efficiency improvements.