Corporate Green Pledges

Bauer, Michael D.; Huber, Daniel; Offner, Eric; Renkel, Marlene; Wilms, Ole

doi:10.24148/wp2024-36

Working Paper

Corporate Green Pledges

Abstract: We identify corporate commitments for reductions of greenhouse gas emissions—green pledges—from news articles using a large language model. About 8% of publicly traded U.S. companies have made green pledges, and these companies tend to be larger and browner than those without pledges. Announcements of green pledges significantly and persistently raise stock prices, consistent with reductions in the carbon premium. Firms that make green pledges subsequently reduce their CO2 emissions. Our evidence suggests that green pledges are credible, have material new information for investors, and can reduce perceived transition risk.

Keywords: climate finance; text classification; event studies; transition risks;

JEL Classification: G14; G32; Q54; Q56;

https://doi.org/10.24148/wp2024-36