carbon market prices

In the carbon market there are several indicators from differents sources. All the greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions are measure in carbon dioxide, so each indicator is expressed also in tons of carbon dioxide (tCO2).

In Europe exists the EUA OTC (European Union Allowances) market, that rates the exchange price of each tCO2, using the Emissions Trading scheme, one of the Kyoto Protocol mechanisms for GHG emissions mitigation, under the survilance of the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC).

In the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) scheme, each mitigated tCO2, represent one carbon credit or unit, certified by the UNFCCC with the Certified Emissions Reductions (CERs). Each CER can be traded as a guarantee of funds payments or traded directly in the carbon markets.

Finally, for the projects that are nos registred under the Kyoto Protocol, exists alternative markets for the carbon credits trading. An example of one of these markets is the Chicago Carbon Exchange, where the tradings are certified with the Voluntary Emissions Reductions (VERs).

The carbon credits certified in the Kyoto Protocol are traded in euros (€), but in the rest of the markets, are traded in US dollars ($). In all the schemes and markets, a carbon unit or credit is equivalent to one metric ton of carbon dioxide (tCO2), so they can be expressed in €/tCO2 or $/tCO2 nomenclatures.

prices

The following table shows the average prices of EUA and CERs in June 2008 and the futures prices for 2009 thru 2012:

There are different web sites to verified prices, like EEX or Point Carbon. The following graph shows the price of the last 30 days EUA-OTC prices, accordind to Point Carbon: