Sliced: Carbon Market Opportunities for Everyday Investors

Follow us on LinkedIn! Click here.

Listen to this Sliced essay on any of the streaming platforms below:

• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• Amazon Music
• YouTube

By: Jay Tipton

As someone who works in climate finance, it might not come as a surprise that I am also an active investor. My portfolio includes investments in stock markets, early-stage companies, energy, real estate, and, as of about a year ago, carbon markets.

Until recently, it was impossible for individual investors to gain direct exposure to carbon trading, but now, thanks to a few innovative platforms, private investors have the opportunity to participate in carbon markets while making a tangible environmental impact.

One of the platforms I use is Homaio , which allows private investors to access European Union Allowances (EUAs), the currency of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Established in 2005, the EU ETS is the world’s first and largest regulated carbon market, designed to reduce emissions by capping the supply of allowances available to industrial emitters across a variety of key economic sectors in the EU. With a decreasing supply over time, EUAs have historically been a top-performing asset which makes them a compelling investment opportunity.

Homaio leverages expertise in climate finance, technology, and public policy to provide a way for individuals to invest in EUAs. Beyond potential financial returns, investing in EUAs also contributes to climate action by removing allowances from the system, effectively pushing industries toward cleaner alternatives.

My experience with the Homaio team has been excellent – they are responsive, knowledgeable, and committed to making climate-focused investing accessible.

Another emerging option for investors is crbn.trade , a new platform that provides access to the voluntary carbon market (VCM) and compliance markets.

Crbn.trade enables individuals to invest in carbon credits that fund projects dedicated to emissions reductions and removals. The platform offers a low barrier to entry, allowing investments starting at just $25. Investors can choose from three curated portfolios: one focused on projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere, another dedicated to credits that meet regulatory compliance, and a third combining nature-based and technology-driven climate solutions helping to achieve net zero targets.

Crbn.trade aims to prioritize security by employing blockchain technology, end-to-end encryption, and secure wallet integration to protect investors' funds. The company is preparing to launch a mobile app, with beta testing beginning in March 2025, making carbon credit trading even more accessible.

Full disclosure – I have not yet invested in crbn.trade, but I plan to connect with their team soon to learn more.

Coincidentally, one of their board directors, David Antonioli , the former CEO of Verra , was a guest of mine in 2023 on our podcast “Untangling Climate Finance.” He joined me to discuss the state of the VCM. If you’re curious, you can check out our conversation on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Just be clear, this is not financial advice, but rather an encouragement for those interested in investing with impact to explore the growing opportunities in carbon markets. If you’re looking to align your investments with climate action while potentially earning a return, platforms like Homaio and crbn.trade are worth considering.

And if you know of other companies offering similar opportunities, or simply want to chat about personal climate investing, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to talk investing shop!

The American Forest Foundation will host the first-ever auction for carbon credits from the Family Forest Carbon Program, taking place March 12–19, 2025. This groundbreaking event marks the first nature-based carbon credit auction in the U.S., offering a transparent, efficient way for buyers to secure high-quality credits while supporting rural communities and family forest owners.

• Read the full announcement
• Learn more about the auction

Auction Platform Demo

To help participants prepare, AFF offered a live demo of the Auction Platform on February 27th. The session walked attendees through key processes such as how to access the Data Room for due diligence materials, how to place and manage bids, and how to view and evaluate the competing bids.

A link to the recording of the demo can be found here.

The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities has announced an RFP for their new Impact Investing Program. The program seeks to deploy up to $5 million in 2024 through impact investments in companies, funds, or projects that advance systemic, transformative, and sustainable benefits for the health and vitality of working forests and forest-reliant communities in the United States.

Gordian Knot Strategies is supporting the development of the Impact Investing program. We encourage you to read the Endowment’s press release here, review the RFP materials here, and share with your network.

This is a great opportunity for companies and project developers seeking capital on reasonable investment terms. Please note that this is not a grant making endeavor.

An informational webinar about the RFP response process was held on January 15, 2025. A recording of the webinar is available here.

Deadline for final submission: Thursday, March 13, 2025 by 5pm PST

Please direct any questions to: [email protected]

Want to receive the Sliced weekly dispatch?

Click here.

If you want to see more of our content, check out our monthly newsletter, Virtus.

Click here.