Abstract
We investigate whether corporate bond liquidity is negatively impacted by issuers' carbon intensity, particularly given a rising share of sustainably investing bond funds. Using several established illiquidity measures, we analyze the long-term impact of carbon performance on bond illiquidity. We do not find conclusive evidence that carbon intensity leads to bond illiquidity; however, we find evidence that bonds from high-carbon issuers exhibited heightened illiquidity around the Paris Agreement. A higher share of funds holding low-carbon portfolios does not seem to be associated with improved liquidity in low-carbon bonds. Despite the growing market share of sustainability-oriented funds, continued investment in brown bonds suggests that carbon-intense sectors remain economically attractive to investors.