Climate Exchange avg June ECX trade up 57 pct y/y

LONDON, July 3 (Reuters) - Average daily trading volumes on the European Climate Exchange (ECX) rose 57 percent in June versus a year earlier, operator Climate Exchange Plc (CLIE.L) said on Friday.

The company, which operates the world's largest marketplace for greenhouse gas permits, said 463,149 contracts were traded last month -- the third highest month on record -- with average daily volume of more than 21,000 contracts.

It also said the number of open positions on ECX futures and options increased almost 10 percent over the course of the month.

Emissions trading allows governments to cap the climate-warming carbon dioxide produced by heavy industry. Emissions permits are given or auctioned to companies, which can then trade them over exchanges.

(Reporting by Catherine Bosley; editing by Paul Hoskins)