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Bridge over ocean
1 June 2016 Financial Analysts Journal Volume 72, Issue 3

Hedging Climate Risk

  1. Mats Andersson
  2. Patrick Bolton
  3. Frédéric Samama

We present a simple dynamic investment strategy that allows long-term passive investors to hedge climate risk without sacrificing financial returns. We illustrate how the tracking error can be virtually eliminated even for a low-carbon index with 50% less carbon footprint than its benchmark. By investing in such a decarbonized index, investors in effect are holding a “free option on carbon.” As long as climate change mitigation actions are pending, the low-carbon index obtains the same return as the benchmark index; but once carbon dioxide emissions are priced, or expected to be priced, the low-carbon index should start to outperform the benchmark.

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