Argus Carbon

Argus Carbon covers compliance and voluntary carbon markets worldwide.

Europe

• EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS)
• UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS)
• EU and UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (EU AND UK CBAM)

 

North America

• California Carbon Allowances (CCAs)
• California Carbon Offsets (CCO)
• RGGI CO2 Allowances 
• Washington Carbon Allowances (WCA)
• Alberta CO2 Offsets

 

Asia-Pacific and Australia

• China Carbon Emission Allowances (CEAs)
• Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs)
• Australian Safeguard Mechanism Credit Units (SMCs)

 

Aviation

• Corsia Phase 1 (CP1)

 

Voluntary Carbon Markets

• Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+)
• Clean Cookstoves
• Renewable Energy
• Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation (ARR)
• Improved Forest Management (IFM)
• Blue Carbon
• Core Carbon Principles (CCP) labelled credits

Argus Carbon is a price reporting and market intelligence service for global carbon markets. It provides price benchmarks, daily news and analysis covering compliance emissions trading in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific, as well as global frameworks such as the EU and UK CBAM and Corsia Phase 1 (CP1), plus a broad range of voluntary carbon credits.

All content is delivered through a real-time web portal, live price feeds and a weekly PDF report.

Argus Carbon prices are assessed using a transparent, market-reflective methodology. Key steps include:

• Polling a broad cross-section of market participants including producers, consumers and intermediaries
• Collecting data via telephone, email, instant messenger and electronic trading platforms
• Verifying price, volume, specifications and counterparty details using rigorous primary and secondary tests 
• Applying judgement-based assessment where transaction data is limited, drawing on bids, offers, tenders, spreads and fundamental information

Publication frequency varies by market type:

• Compliance markets (EU ETS, UK ETS, North American schemes, Australian ACCUs, Chinese ETS) — daily
• Corsia Phase 1 (CP1) — weekly
• Voluntary carbon markets — published at frequencies aligned to market liquidity
• Weekly PDF report — a curated editorial summary of key pricing and market developments

Argus Carbon is available through multiple delivery channels:

• Real-time web portal with customisable workspaces and pricing dashboards
• Daily email delivery of prices, news and analysis
• Price feeds for direct system integration
• Weekly PDF report curated by Argus editors

 

Contact Argus to discuss access options or request a trial.

Argus Carbon delivers daily policy and regulatory coverage across:

• EU ETS and UK ETS rule changes and auction updates
• Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) implementation
• Corsia aviation scheme developments
• National ETS updates across North America and Asia-Pacific
• Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and international carbon trading frameworks
• Emerging carbon removal, technology markets and overlapping commodity sector news

Argus Carbon covers a broad range of project-based voluntary carbon credits, assessed as OTC prices broken down by vintage, geography and project type:

• Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+)
• Clean Cookstoves
• Renewable Energy
• Afforestation, Reforestation and Revegetation (ARR)
• Improved Forest Management (IFM)
• Blue Carbon
• Core Carbon Principles (CCP) labelled credits

CBAM stands for Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. It is a policy approach designed to address carbon leakage by imposing a carbon price on imports of certain goods from countries with less stringent climate regulations. The mechanism aims to level the playing field for domestic industries subject to carbon costs. CBAM primarily applies to companies and products involved in sectors with high carbon emissions, such as steel, cement, aluminium, fertilizers, and electricity, especially when imported into regions enforcing CBAM regulations, for example, the European Union. This ensures that imported goods bear a carbon cost comparable to locally produced items, promoting global climate action.

The prices of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) are primarily driven by supply and demand dynamics for carbon allowances. Key factors include:

• Regulatory Framework: Caps on total emissions and allocation of allowances influence market supply.
• Economic Activity: Higher industrial production increases demand for allowances.
• Energy Prices: Shifts between fossil fuels and renewables affect emissions and allowance needs.
• Market Sentiment and Speculation: Expectations about future policies and economic conditions can impact prices.
• Technological Advances: Innovations in emission reductions can change demand for allowances.

 

Together, these factors shape the carbon price within the EU ETS market.

The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is a key tool used by the European Union to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It operates as a 'cap and trade' system where a limit (cap) is set on the total amount of certain greenhouse gases that can be emitted by installations covered by the system.

Companies receive or buy emission allowances which they can trade with one another as needed. Each allowance permits the emission of one tonne of CO2 equivalent. At the end of each year, companies must surrender enough allowances to cover their emissions. If they emit less, they can sell their extra allowances or save them for future use. If they emit more, they must buy additional allowances or face penalties.

By putting a price on carbon and reducing the total number of allowances over time, the EU ETS incentivizes companies to invest in cleaner technologies and reduce emissions cost-effectively, helping the EU meet its climate goals.