2 ASX ETFs that investors are using to bet on the future

Here are two investments that people can use to invest in a greener future.

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Key points

  • Sharesies has revealed which were the most popular ETFs to invest in during November 2022
  • The second most popular was VanEck Global Clean Energy ETF
  • BetaShares Climate Change Innovation ETF, which is invested in a broad group of businesses fighting climate change in some way, was third

The ASX share market is full of interesting businesses. But, there are some compelling companies listed elsewhere around the world. We can get access to those with ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Some ETFs like the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS) track an index with businesses that are spread across a variety of sectors, such as the S&P/ASX 300 Index (ASX: XKO).

But, there are a growing number of ETFs that provide investors with access to a specific industry or theme.

A report by Sharesies has identified which ETFs investors have been buying. While the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF was the most popular, I'm going to outline the next two most popular ETFs that were bought in November 2022 on the Sharesies platform.

VanEck Global Clean Energy ETF (ASX: CLNE)

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3VanEck Global Clean Energy ETF PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.com.au

The purpose of the ETF is to give investors exposure to 30 of the largest companies involved in "clean energy production and associated technology and equipment globally", according to VanEck. These businesses are from both 'developed' and 'developing' markets.

There are four main areas that this ASX ETF is invested in – independent power producers and energy traders (33% of the portfolio), electrical equipment (29.3%), semiconductors and semiconductor equipment (24.8%), and electric utilities (12.9%).

In terms of geographic weighting, the US is the biggest allocation with 41%, but many countries have a weighting of more than 2.5%: Spain (10%), China (9.2%), Israel (7.5%), New Zealand (6.6%), Denmark (5.3%), Canada (4.6%), Japan (4.2%), Brazil (2.9%), and Austria (2.6%).

At the end of November 2022, these were the ten biggest positions in the portfolio: Solaredge Technologies, Vestas Wind Systems, Sunrun, First Solar, Enphase Energy, EDP Renovaveis, Bloom Energy, Xinyi Solar, Chubu Electric Power, and Brookfield Renewable. Those positions make up around 48% of the total portfolio.

This ASX ETF comes with an annual management fee of around 0.65%.

BetaShares Climate Change Innovation ETF (ASX: ERTH)

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Betashares Capital - Betashares Climate Change Innovation ETF PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALLwww.fool.com.au

This investment provides a more diversified exposure to the fight against climate change. It's invested in up to 100 global companies that make at least 50% of their revenue from "products and services that help to address climate change and other environmental problems through the reduction or avoidance of CO2 emissions".

Sectors covered within the ETF include clean energy providers, along with companies tackling "green transport, waste management, sustainable product development, and improved energy efficiency and storage".

Looking at the allocations, green energy gets the biggest allocation with 23.8% of the portfolio, followed by 'enabling solutions' (21.9%), green transportation (21.3%), sustainable products (21.1%), and water and waste improvements (11.9%).

The portfolio is a bit more US-focused than the first one I outlined, with a weighting of 53.9% to the United States. Other weightings of more than 2% include China (8.6%), South Korea (6.2%), Denmark (5.1%), France (4.4%), Japan (3.5%), Spain (2.5%), Sweden (2.3%), and Germany (2.1%).

The top holdings of this ASX ETF look very different from the VanEck one. Here are the biggest 10 positions: Trane Technologies, Enphase Energy, Eaton, Vestas Wind Systems, American Water Works, Ecolab, Samsung, Cie De Saint-Gobain, East Japan Railway, and BYD.

This ETF comes with an annual management fee of 0.65%.

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Motley Fool contributor Tristan Harrison has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Brookfield Renewable. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended Ecolab, First Solar, and SolarEdge Technologies. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

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