1、CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i How Do Bank Regulators Treat Climate Change Risks? November 25, 2020 Introduction Potential risks to the financial system from climate change have attracted growing attention in government, academia, and media, raising que
2、stions about the roles of central banks and bank regulators in addressing such risks. The U.S. central bank, the Federal Reserve (Fed), has responsibilities involving financial stability, monetary policy, and banking supervision. Climate changedefined in a November 9, 2020, Fed report as “the trend
3、toward higher average global temperatures and accompanying environmental shifts such as rising sea levels and more severe weather events”may impact each of these. This could occur either through physical risks, such as greater storms and wildfires, or through “transition risk,” meaning the risk that
4、 changed government policies or market perceptions might lead to sudden asset price drops, such as for carbon-emitting industries. The Fed report on financial stability warned that sudden hazards can bring about direct losses that could negatively impact banks investments. It asserted that even slow
