Carbon Pricing
Economists around the world consider carbon pricing the most economically efficient climate policy option. RFF experts are informing the design and examining the impacts of carbon pricing to help leaders better understand the fiscal and environmental costs and benefits.
Highlights
Topics
Border Adjustments
Examining the design, implementation costs, and policy impacts of border adjustments
Cap and Trade
Analyzing and advising on policies in the United States and elsewhere
Carbon Taxes
Examining potential impacts, revenue use options, and more.
Clean Energy Standards
Working with policymakers to provide economic analysis on potential legislation
Climate Policy in California
Evaluating climate policy in California, beginning with Assembly Bill 32.
RGGI
Analyzing programs in place through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Featured Content
- Highlights
- Publications
- Events
- News
- Resources Magazine
Common Resources — Aug 10, 2022
California Cap and Trade Explained
California’s cap-and-trade program limits carbon emissions, creates a market for tradable emissions credits, and funds decarbonization projects. The program’s history, successes, and lessons learned can help similar programs elsewhere succeed.
On the Issues — Jul 22, 2022
On the Issues: Carbon Offsets, Sweet and Sour Oils, and More
A biweekly newsletter connecting global current events, pressing climate and energy policy news, and economics research from RFF scholars. This week: carbon offsets, sweet and sour oils, and more.
Media Highlight — Jul 14, 2022
POLITICO: "The Battle over a Key(stone) Climate Fix"
Senior Research Analyst Maya Domeshek shares her insights on RGGI.
Common Resources — Jul 13, 2022
The Role of Voluntary Carbon Markets in Achieving Net-Zero Goals
Private-sector firms have shown an increasing interest in offsets to help mitigate their carbon footprints. Voluntary carbon markets can provide the outlet firms need, but the success of these markets will depend on how some open questions get resolved.
Issue Brief — Jul 6, 2022
Industrial Decarbonization and Competitiveness: Building a Performance Alliance
In this issue brief, RFF scholars explore the idea of a "performance alliance," in which countries align decarbonization efforts and trade policies with the aim of maintaining competitiveness while limiting leakage.
Issue Brief — May 12, 2022
Industrial Decarbonization and Competitiveness: A Domestic Benchmark Intensity Approach
This issue brief suggests an approach to decarbonizing the industrial sector that involves a performance metric, providing equal treatment for foreign and domestically produced industrial goods while addressing competitiveness concerns.
Report — Jan 24, 2022
Lessons from the Literature for State Carbon Pricing Policy Design
This report offers a comprehensive review of carbon pricing policy design, examining the implications of and gaps in the existing carbon pricing literature.
Working Paper — Jan 18, 2022
World Carbon Pricing Database: Sources and Methods
This technical note describes the sources and methods used to construct the World Carbon Pricing Database.
RFF Live — Jun 8, 2022
Decarbonization Policy and International Competitiveness
An event—featuring Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and a panel of experts—breaking down new proposals for border carbon adjustments and the future of decarbonization and trade
RFF Live — Mar 10, 2022
The Future of Carbon Pricing: Policy in Action
A review of trends and trajectories in carbon pricing around the world
RFF Live — Nov 9, 2021
Carbon Border Measures: Policies to Combat Leakage and Encourage Climate Ambition
A panel discussion will explore recent border measure proposals in the European Union and United States
RFF Live — Nov 3, 2021
Carbon Border Measures: What Happens with Ambitious Climate Policies?
Examining whether net-zero policies cause emissions leakage—and how effectively border measures can mitigate it
Media Highlight — Jul 14, 2022
POLITICO: "The Battle over a Key(stone) Climate Fix"
Senior Research Analyst Maya Domeshek shares her insights on RGGI.
Media Highlight — Jun 16, 2022
E&E News: "Carbon Tariffs Are Coming. Here's How the US Is Preparing"
Senior Fellow Ray Kopp shares his insights about the differences and similarities between the United States and European Union's plans for a border carbon adjustment.
Media Highlight — Jun 6, 2022
E&E News: "Indian State of Gujarat Moves to Launch Carbon Market"
Senior Fellow Maureen Cropper employs her expertise on Indian air pollution and carbon pricing in a story about efforts in the country to launch a carbon market.
Media Highlight — May 27, 2022
The Economist: "Carbon Markets Are Going Global"
Senior Fellow Dallas Burtraw is quoted in a piece about carbon pricing, carbon markets, and the effects that they could have on international relations.
Common Resources — Aug 10, 2022
California Cap and Trade Explained
California’s cap-and-trade program limits carbon emissions, creates a market for tradable emissions credits, and funds decarbonization projects. The program’s history, successes, and lessons learned can help similar programs elsewhere succeed.
On the Issues — Jul 22, 2022
On the Issues: Carbon Offsets, Sweet and Sour Oils, and More
A biweekly newsletter connecting global current events, pressing climate and energy policy news, and economics research from RFF scholars. This week: carbon offsets, sweet and sour oils, and more.
Common Resources — Jul 13, 2022
The Role of Voluntary Carbon Markets in Achieving Net-Zero Goals
Private-sector firms have shown an increasing interest in offsets to help mitigate their carbon footprints. Voluntary carbon markets can provide the outlet firms need, but the success of these markets will depend on how some open questions get resolved.
Resources Magazine — May 19, 2022
Senior Fellow Status Update
Robert Stavins talks with economist Maureen L. Cropper about her career in environmental economics, the social cost of carbon, the future of climate policy, climate activism, and more.
