CLIMATE RISKS AND FINANCIAL RESILIENCE: STRATEGIES FOR INDIAN FIRMS IN A NET-ZERO FUTURE

India’s vulnerability to climate change, coupled with its ambitious net-zero target by 2070, places unprecedented pressure on firms to achieve financial resilience amid physical risks (e.g., floods, cyclones) and transition risks (e.g., carbon taxes, green mandates). This book investigates how Indian firms, particularly in the energy and manufacturing sectors, can maintain financial stability—measured through debt-to-equity ratios, return on assets, liquidity ratios, and cash flow volatility—under climate risk scenarios. Employing stress testing, scenario analysis, and case studies, the study integrates the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) frameworks, drawing on India-specific data from the India Meteorological Department and Capitaline database. Findings reveal significant financial vulnerabilities, with energy firms facing 18% debt-to-equity increases from stranded assets and manufacturing firms experiencing 20% higher cash flow volatility from supply chain disruptions.