Volume 30, Issue 2 pp. 1632-1648
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Climate risks and the REITs market

Afees A. Salisu

Corresponding Author

Afees A. Salisu

Institute of Business Research, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Centre for Econometrics & Applied Research, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria

Correspondence

Afees A. Salisu, Centre for Econometrics & Applied Research, 5, Oba Akinyele/DPC Road, Ojetunji Aboyade's House, Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria.

Email: [email protected]

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Ahamuefula E. Ogbonna

Ahamuefula E. Ogbonna

Centre for Econometrics and Applied Research and Department of Statistics, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

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Xuan Vinh Vo

Xuan Vinh Vo

Institute of Business Research and CFVG Ho Chi Minh City, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

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First published: 28 April 2024
Citations: 4

Abstract

This study presents results supporting the need to price climate risks in real estate investment trusts. We approach this objective by conducting some empirical analyses for global, regional, and [US] sectoral REITs for want of wider coverage while we also consider variants of climate risks involving physical and transition risks. We first establish that climate concerns amplify the volatility of REIT returns. While our results are split for sectoral REITs, we find that both physical and transition risks magnify the volatility in the regional and global REITs market. However, when we consider the US sectoral REITs, we find contrasting evidence between the two variants of climate risks. While the transition risks seem to raise the REITs market volatility, perhaps owing to improved trading in the market as signalled by some level commitments towards addressing climate change, the physical risks associated with damages due to climate change tend to lower the REITs market volatility due to lower trading. Consequently, we formulate a framework that enables a profit-maximizing investor to observe climate risks when making investment decisions in the REITs market, and we further show that doing so provides higher economic gains than ignoring it. This outcome has implications for investors looking for the best hedging strategy against climate-related risks, especially as the world intensifies efforts towards de-carbonization.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.