C3 holding SparkChange launches world-first physical carbon ETC

• First ever Exchange-Traded Commodity physically-backed with carbon allowances launches today
• “SparkChange CO2” prevents carbon emissions by withholding carbon allowances from polluters
• Tradable instrument creates positive environmental impact while capturing potential price increases

SparkChange, a climate tech company, has launched the world’s first physically-backed carbon exchange-traded commodity (ETC), listing today on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). 

SparkChange Physical Carbon EUA ETC (TICKR: CO2.L), also known as SparkChange CO2, prevents carbon emissions while providing access to one of the best performing commodities over recent years.

This product provides investors with exposure to regulated European Union carbon Allowances (EUAs) without needing to build the complex and costly infrastructure required to access that market directly and take delivery of the carbon allowances.

Unlike solutions that indirectly try to limit carbon emissions – such as buying offsets, excluding dirty stocks or buying products based on EUA futures – SparkChange CO2 specifically prevents carbon emissions from being emitted, creating measurable environmental impact.

Elliot Waxman, CEO of SparkChange, comments on the launch: “Carbon is now a physically-backed, investible instrument on the stock exchange. This gives investors convenient access to a product that is designed to stop carbon emissions and boost returns. 

“Unlike carbon offsets, where investors must choose between creating environmental impact or achieving returns, they can now do both. When constructing a low-carbon portfolio, SparkChange CO2 can help investors meet their environmental goals without having to exclude companies that are not yet green”.

Dan Barry, chairman of SparkChange, adds: “In the future, financial markets will come to see the 21^st century carbon price as more important for prosperity than the oil price was in the 20^th century.”

How SparkChange CO2 reduces carbon emissions:

An EUA is a “permit to pollute 1 tonne of CO2”. Each unit of SparkChange CO2 is physically-backed by one EUA[1]. The EUAs held within the ETC structure cannot be used by polluters, ensuring direct and positive environmental impact.

Two independent studies conclude that withholding one EUA for ten years, then reintroducing the EUA back into the market, permanently prevents between 0.82 and 1.48 tonnes of CO2 entering the atmosphere.[2] Since SparkChange C02 withholds physical EUAs, the same quantifiable level of CO2 prevention is achieved via an investment in the newly-launched ETC.

How SparkChange CO2 creates value for investors:

To cap pollution in Europe, the EU Commission automatically reduces the supply of EUAs each year in order to decrease emissions over time, creating upward price pressure and generating scarcity value.  As each unit of SparkChange CO2 is physically-backed by one EUA*, an increase in the price of EUAs would directly benefit investors.

As a result, EUAs are one of the best performing commodities of the last five years, providing a compound annual growth rate of 55% since 2018[3].

SparkChange CO2 also avoids the performance drag associated with EUA futures-based products. This drag (known as “contango”) erodes the value of a futures-based investment over time, at the expense of the investor, and has recently been 50-130bp a year. Historically, it has been much higher^[4]. As SparkChange CO2 uses physical EUAs rather than futures, investors will not suffer from this effect.

SparkChange CO2 was created in partnership with HANetf, Europe’s leading white label ETP provider.

Nik Bienkowski, CEO of HANetf, concludes: “Investors need as many ways as possible to decarbonise their portfolios – and we’re proud to be a partner in this new and groundbreaking development. Exchange-traded products have an enormous role to play in tackling the climate crisis and energy transition – and now investors can use an ETC to access the physical market for carbon itself.”

About SparkChange

SparkChange is a provider of specialist carbon investment products and data, enabling investors to achieve both financial returns and positive environmental impact. The company was established by experts in environmental products and capital market technologies to set a new standard in carbon investing.

For more information on SparkChange, visit http://www.sparkchange.io

Spark Change Group Limited (FRN 944451) is an Appointed Representative of Duff & Phelps Securities Ltd. (FRN 466588) which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Partners and advisors in the launch of SparkChange CO2 included; Solactive, Barclays, State Street and HANetf (see below).

About HANetf

HANetf is an independent white label ETF and ETC platform. The company enables specialist market experts, technology providers and asset managers to bring innovative investment ideas to European investors.

ABOUT C3 MANAGEMENT AND FINLAB EOS VC FUND

C3 Management GmbH (https://www.c3venture.capital) is an asset management company focused on managing venture funds which invest in exceptional technology companies worldwide. With our C3 EOS VC Fund Venture Fund, our mission is, among other things, to accelerate growth, development, and especially adoption of EOSIO-based blockchains and the EOSIO software.

The C3 EOS VC Fund is part of Block.one’s EOS VC program and offers developers and entrepreneurs the funding they need to create community-driven businesses leveraging EOSIO. The EOS VC Fund focuses on early and growth stage technology companies and typically takes a minority equity stake. C3 operates worldwide and is located in Frankfurt, Germany.