Weak Transmission of Climate Policies and Macroeconomic Dominance in Bank Allocation: Empirical Analysis in the WAEMU Zone

Abstract

This article examines the transmission of climate policies to bank credit allocation in the WAEMU region between 2015 and 2024. The methodology employs a bank-country-quarter fixed effects panel model applied to a sample of 40 banks (n = 1,560 observations), adapting the approach of Covi et al. (2025). The empirical results reveal an almost non-existent transmission channel: the coefficient associated with the CCPI index is weak and statistically insignificant (β = 0.04; p > 0.10) for green exposures (TAC), as well as for carbon-intensive sectors (β = −0.02; p > 0.10). In contrast, inflation emerges as the main determinant: a one-point increase in the inflation rate leads to an estimated +3.5% reallocation toward more resilient sectors (β = 0.0014; p < 0.05), indicating macroeconomic dominance over climate signals.

The findings highlight a substantial gap in the integration of climate risk within WAEMU banking practices. The average share of "green" loans remains below 2% of total portfolios, while exposure to vulnerable sectors still exceeds 28%. The study calls for strengthening the BCEAO's prudential framework: mandatory climate stress tests, standardized disclosure requirements, and targeted regulatory incentives.

JEL Classification: G21, Q54, E58, O55

Paper type: Empirical research article