Climate Exchange, the owner of platforms for trading in Europe and Chicago, has appointed a director to its board with connections to NYSE Euronext, the transatlantic group which last month revealed plans to move into the fast-growing carbon emissions market.

Sir Brian Williamson, a director of NYSE Euronext, has agreed to join the board of Climate Exchange, which owns the European Climate Exchange and the Chicago Climate Exchange. The two exchanges enable market participants, such as governments, commercial banks, funds and private companies, to trade carbon emissions.