How to Invest in Carbon Credits

Investors have many ways to generate returns from assets, including carbon credits. These alternative investments are useful for climate change and can cater to environmental, social and governance (ESG) investors. But you don’t want to end up with an investment that remains flat or produces a negative return on investment (ROI). This article discusses past returns of carbon credits, how these assets work and ways to gain exposure if you want to add them to your portfolio.

What Are Carbon Credits?

A carbon credit allows a company to produce one metric ton of carbon dioxide. Companies can obtain carbon credits for demonstrating they have reduced greenhouse gas emissions or pulled them out of the atmosphere. Companies can sell carbon credits to get rewarded for reducing greenhouse gas. Buyers range from investors to companies that need to increase their carbon dioxide production limit. The incentive rewards companies for being more conscious of greenhouse gas and makes it more expensive for other companies to increase carbon dioxide output.

Should You Invest in Carbon Credits?

Carbon credits are alternative investments that allow investors to generate returns based on a climate change initiative. The carbon credits market encompasses roughly 20% of all carbon dioxide emissions. Companies that cannot achieve net zero will have to continuously purchase carbon credits or continue emitting carbon dioxide with the risk of incurring a fine. Carbon credits are based on government programs. Carbon credit investors hope that the government doubles down on climate change protocols, so carbon credits remain an essential part of the mix.

Pros and Cons of Investing in Carbon Credits

If you’re wondering whether carbon credit investing makes sense for your portfolio, some of the advantages and disadvantages of this alternative asset are highlighted below.

Pros of Carbon Credit Investing

•  Strong demand: Companies need to purchase carbon credits to increase their carbon dioxide production. Some companies have been purchasing these credits years in advance, demonstrating a strong need for this asset.
• Environmental impact: Carbon credits make it more expensive for companies to exceed carbon dioxide production limits. Carbon credits also reward companies that have successfully reduced their greenhouse gas output. 
• Potential floor: Some governments are discussing a price floor for carbon credit investing. If governments establish a price floor to bolster the response to climate change, it will limit a carbon credit investor’s downside. 
• Stock market hedge: Carbon credit prices do not correlate with the stock market. If your stock portfolio is down, carbon credits might provide gains to cushion the blow. Carbon credits do not always go up when the stock market goes down, but this possibility exists because of the lack of correlation.

Cons of Carbon Credit Investing

• Carbon credit investing is a new market: The first carbon credits began trading in 1997. It doesn’t have the same historical performance as stocks and real estate.
• Carbon credits depend on government policies: If a government decides to pull out of the carbon credit investing program or make changes, it can significantly impact the value of carbon credits. 
• Questionable environmental results: Carbon credits reward companies for preserving the environment and force other companies to pay up if they need to produce more carbon. But this may not have a positive impact on the environment because corporations can simply purchase more carbon credits to increase their pollution without legal repercussions.  

4 Ways to Invest in Carbon Credits

Every investment has pros and cons. If you’re curious about a carbon credit investment after reading about the advantages and disadvantages, you can use these investment routes to get started.

Individual Companies

Investors can look for companies that profit from selling carbon credits. These companies are often in the renewable energy space and use carbon credits as an income stream. Investors have to look at the company’s revenue and earnings instead of only building positions because the company makes money from carbon credits. Individual companies become more desirable if they do not depend on carbon credit revenue to generate profits. It should be an extra income source that complements a profitable business model.

Carbon Credit Futures

Carbon credit futures are contracts that let you purchase 1,000 carbon credits at an agreed-upon price and time. You can buy and sell these contracts to realize profits before you are forced to buy 1,000 carbon credits. Carbon credit futures can help you lock in a price, but your futures contract will lose value if carbon credit prices fall.

Carbon Credit ETFs

Carbon credit exchange-traded funds (ETFs) provide instant diversification. You can invest across different types of carbon credits and companies involved with them. These assets are readily accessible from any portfolio dashboard, but carbon credit ETFs have more correlation with the stock market. Investors seeking less correlation will not benefit from purchasing carbon credit ETFs. While some carbon credit ETFs have fared better in 2022 than the market, their prices can be influenced by short-term stock market fluctuations.

Multiasset Hedge Funds

Multiasset hedge funds hold onto various alternative investments, including carbon credits. You won’t have to worry about holding onto these assets and tracking them on your own. Multiasset hedge funds hold onto the actual assets instead of carbon credit ETFs, making them less correlated with the stock market. You should look at a hedge fund’s historical performance and fees to discover whether it’s the right fit for your portfolio. While a hedge fund may sound like something exclusive to institutional investors, some hedge funds have significantly lowered the barrier of entry so more retail investors can participate as well.

Diversifying Your Portfolio with Carbon Credit Investing

Carbon credits are an alternative asset that provides portfolio diversification. Having several asset classes leaves you more prepared for volatility and economic cycles. The strong demand for carbon credits and lack of correlation with the stock market make it an intriguing asset for some investors.

Frequently Asked Questions