Page 15 - Green Finance 2024
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how the inherent uncertainties of green finance, such as technological risks and market
acceptance, add layers of complexity to financial risk assessment. These uncertainties
can lead to premiums that might deter short-term investors.
- Uncertain Financial Performance: Investors are often hesitant to commit to green
finance due to uncertainties about its financial performance, especially in the short term.
While long-term data suggest that green investments can be profitable, short-term returns
can be volatile and unpredictable. For example, Karpf and Mandel (2018) shows that the
performance of green investments and note that while they often yield lower returns in
the short term due to higher initial costs and market adaptation challenges, they tend to
outperform traditional investments over the long term due to lower operational costs and
increasing regulatory support.
- Regulatory concerns and transition risks: Green finance is heavily influenced by
government policies and regulations, which can change significantly over time.
Additionally, the transition to a low-carbon economy requires significant changes in
business practices across many industries, potentially leading to significant transition
risks. Investors may be concerned that future environmental regulations could negatively
impact the returns on current investments or that policy reversals could lead to stranded
assets. The changing in environmental policies and regulations can lead to substantial
financial risks for investors in green finance, emphasizing the need for stable and
predictable regulatory frameworks to foster confidence and investment in sustainable
projects (Battiston, Mandel, Monasterolo, Schütze, & Visentin, 2017). Besides,
transition risks represent a significant challenge for investors in green finance, as
industries adapting to low-carbon standards might face short-term financial hardships,
technological mismatches, or shifts in consumer behavior that can render existing assets
obsolete or less valuable.
On the other hand, from academic perspective, we have some prospects associated with
green finance, including:
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