Carbon Credits

moneyladder · 3 August 2011 at 8:11AM

I'm new to this site and was hoping to get some advice on carbon credit investment opportunities. I received a call London Carbon Credit Company (www .londonccc.co. uk) and the pitch sounded reasonable. I have done some online research and there seems to be a lot of information out there on the subject. However, I remain unsure about the legitimacy of it. I can do with some views and opinions of those more experienced investors among you.

I am a young City worker and wish to look at short-medium term investments. Besides my pension, I put money away into an ISA and savings account. I have a few thousand left to play with and want to put it into something that would give me a fairly decent return in the short term. My goal is to get enough capital to purchase a property in London.

Is carbon investing worth looking into further or is there something better out there for me? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.

edinburgher · 3 August 2011 at 8:27AM

Did you ask them to call you? If not, I'd automatically be suspicious.

moneyladder · 3 August 2011 at 8:35AM

edinburgher wrote: »

Did you ask them to call you? If not, I'd automatically be suspicious.

Thanks for reply.

No it was a cold call and I too am suspicious. I am aware of the scams in this sector and in fact the FSA (earlier today) released its first warning over such scams. I am aware of this risk.

However, the point is that following some of my own research, carbon trading and investing looks like a potentially lucrative avenue to explore as long as you deal with the right people and are given the right advice.

I have already identified two important points in that 1) you must buy carbon credits at a good rate to begin with to stand a better chance of making any profit and b) have right to sell when you want.

I am no expert and I am sure there are many more holes in this. But in principle is this worth pursuing? Thanks

Reaper · 3 August 2011 at 8:37AM

Never, ever buy any financial product from a cold call. No legitimate financial company will cold call you.

Carbon credits is a well known scam area. Here is the last thread on the subject:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3159798

Reaper · 3 August 2011 at 8:46AM

I just checked and they are not registered with the FSA which they need to be to sell investments.

Although they have registered their company it was only done a few weeks ago on 29th June and they have failed to state the nature of their business. Probably because there was no category for "scams".

edinburgher · 3 August 2011 at 8:53AM

Probably because there was no category for "scams".

Although that would simplify things somewhat

moneyladder · 3 August 2011 at 9:03AM

Thanks. Looks like this is a dead end. I knew the call I received was a scam (as pointed out above, why would anything lucrative be introduced in this way!?) but did not realise the whole sector was a scam. I will not take this forward. Cheers

edinburgher · 3 August 2011 at 9:13AM

The whole concept of 'carbon credits' has always struck me as something of a scam, or at best greenwash that allows developed countries/growing countries to make themselves feel better (or get around) the fact that they're polluting more!

moneyladder · 3 August 2011 at 9:22AM

edinburgher wrote: »

The whole concept of 'carbon credits' has always struck me as something of a scam, or at best greenwash that allows developed countries/growing countries to make themselves feel better about polluting more!

From an ethical pov, I see your point. However, how do superpowers like the US and China expect to adhere to CO2 emmission levels without introducing such schemes? The speed of development in the green sector is far too slow. At least carbon credits, on paper, give incentive to companies to not only go green but also make a profit on the back of it. Anyway, I am digressing. There is still too little info on the implementation of these credits to give me any real security in looking at it as a potential investment opportunity.

edinburgher · 3 August 2011 at 9:43AM

However, how do superpowers like the US and China expect to adhere to CO2 emmission levels without introducing such schemes?

Massive direct investment in green technologies? The cynic in me suspects we'd be a lot further along if it weren't for the lobbying power/financial clout of oil companies! Anyway, we are digressing a bit.

If you're saving for a deposit, make sure you're filling all of your ISA allowance, index linked bonds from NS&I also look good for beating inflation at the moment (assuming you're not wanting to buy in less than a year?)

skid112 · 3 August 2011 at 4:08PM

Carbon credits are not a regulated activity under the FSMA Act of 2000. Derivatives of carbon credits are (by derivatives I mean futures and options on)

Carbon Credits

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