How to invest in carbon emission allowances using ETFs/ETCs

How can I invest in carbon emission allowances?

With ETFs you not only have the opportunity to invest in equity or bonds. You can also participate in the price development of commodities like carbon emission allowances. However, there are a few things you should know: commodity ETFs always track a whole basket of different commodities. There are no carbon emission allowances ETFs that are domiciled within the European Union. This is due to the regulatory framework which is defined by the UCITS directive. According to these guidelines, an index (and thus also corresponding ETFs) must always provide a minimum degree of diversification and may not consist of only one component. Consequently, regulations in the EU do not allow the launch of a carbon emission allowances ETF.

If you want to invest in a single commodity like carbon emission allowances, you can do so via Exchange Traded Commodities (ETC). Please have a look at our article "What is an ETC?" for a detailed explanation of the similarities and differences between ETFs and ETCs.
 

How carbon credit ETCs work

ETCs can replicate the performance of carbon emission allowances in different ways. First, an ETC may track the spot price of carbon emission allowances and be physically backed. If this is the case, physical carbon emission allowances are used as collateral for the corresponding ETC. Second, ETCs can track the performance of carbon emission allowances using futures contracts. These ETCs are also backed with collateral, which is usually checked on a daily basis. However, the collateral in such a case is not in the form of physical carbon emission allowances, but in the form of cash investments or securities with top credit standing.

In this investment guide you will find all ETCs that allow you to invest in carbon emission allowances.
 

A la hora de elegir el a carbon credit ETF or ETC hay que tener en cuenta otros factores además de la metodología del índice subyacente y el rendimiento de un ETF. Para una mejor comparación, encontrarás una lista de todos los carbon credit ETFs/ETCs con detalles sobre el patrimonio, el coste, la edad, los ingresos, el domicilio y el método de replicación clasificados por patrimonio del fondo.

Compara todos los carbon credit ETFs/ETCs en detalle
Compara todos los carbon credit ETFs/ETCs en un gráfico

Fuente: justETF.com; A partir de 27/4/24

Comparación del rendimiento de todos los carbon credit ETFs/ETCs

La tabla muestra los rendimientos de todos los carbon credit ETFs/ETCs en comparación. Todas las cifras de rentabilidad incluyen los dividendos a final de mes. Además de la rentabilidad es importante la fecha de referencia en la que se realiza la comparación. Para encontrar el mejor ETF, también puedes realizar una comparación gráfica.

• Acumulado
• Año natural

Fuente: justETF.com; A partir de 31/3/24; Cálculos en EUR, incluidos los dividendos