Accounting and Financial Management Research Seminar – Dr David Ririmasse
Date: Wednesday 19 March 2025 | Time: 14:00 to 15:00
Location: Newcastle University Business School (NUBS), Room 2.08
The Accounting and Financial Management research group welcomes Dr David Ririmasse.
He will present his work, entitled "The Effect of Carbon Emissions on Credit Ratings: Evidence from Asian Emerging Economies."
About the speaker
Dr David Ririmasse received his PhD from Queen Mary University of London in 2023. He previously worked at ExxonMobil as a project cost controller and at EY as a senior auditor. His research focuses on climate change, energy markets, and financial risk in emerging economies.
Research abstract
This study examines the impact of firm-level carbon emissions on credit ratings, drawing on data from eight emerging markets between 2010 and 2020. It explores the debate over carbon emissions proxies (intensity vs actual emissions) and their varying effects across industries.
The findings reveal that credit rating agencies consider carbon emissions selectively, sometimes penalising low emitters. Interestingly, firm-reported and vendor-estimated carbon emissions are linked to positive credit ratings for carbon-intensive firms. However, the introduction of the Paris Agreement appears to have negatively impacted the credit ratings of these firms.
These results highlight the complexities of carbon risk assessment in financial markets and call for greater transparency in emissions reporting.