Social Cost of Carbon
RFF researchers are leading a team of distinguished economists and scientists to improve the science behind estimates of the social cost of carbon—the means by which the US federal government, state governments, and foreign governments account for climate change in their actions—through a process that ensures the highest levels of scientific quality and transparency and builds the scientific foundation for future estimates.
SCC Computing Platform: Running the IWG Models
RFF's free, open-source computing platform allows users to access, run, and modify the social cost of carbon (SCC) models used by the federal Interagency Working Group to estimate the SCC.
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From the Blog: SCC Will Underpin Climate Policy
RFF's Richard G. Newell and Maureen Cropper—co-chairs of a landmark National Academies of Sciences report on the social cost of carbon—reflect on how the administration can orient the process around scientific and regulatory best practices.
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The SCC Initiative
Learn more about the current research of the Social Cost of Carbon Initiative.
Learn MoreFeatured Content
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Report — Oct 30, 2020
Estimating the Value of Carbon: Two Approaches
A memo prepared in conjunction with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to inform guidance on the Value of Carbon Guidance for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation
Media Highlight — Dec 31, 2020
DEC Announces 'Value of Carbon' Guidance to Measure Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Multiple stories from New York state news channels cite RFF's involvement with the creation of new state-wide emissions guidance.
Explainer — Aug 1, 2019
Social Cost of Carbon 101
A review of the social cost of carbon, from a basic definition to the history of its use in policy analysis.
Journal Article — Aug 20, 2021
Keep Climate Policy Focused on the Social Cost of Carbon
An article for Science's Policy Forum argues that a shift from the use of the social cost of carbon and benefit-cost analysis for evaluating policy would be misguided.
Testimony and Public Comments — Jun 21, 2021
Comments to OMB on Estimating the Social Cost of Greenhouse Gases
This support document provides research to help improve estimates of the social costs of various greenhouse gases.
Working Paper — Jun 18, 2021
A Discounting Rule for the Social Cost of Carbon
This paper proposes and demonstrates an approach to discounting to use in estimating the social cost of carbon when consumption growth is uncertain, as recommended by the National Academies of Sciences.
Advanced Energy Technologies Series — Jul 30, 2021
Clean Energy Innovation: How Beneficial is Government Funding?
A panel discussion on the effects of government support for advanced energy technology research, development, and demonstration (RD&D)
Environmental Justice Series — May 12, 2021
Environmental Justice: Energy Equity and Transitions
A deeper look into the issues of energy justice, energy poverty, green jobs, and energy transition communities
RFF Live — Feb 10, 2021
The Social Cost of Carbon: Key Scientific and Policy Considerations for the Biden Administration
A conversation that will highlight the latest SCC-related research and give perspective on using the SCC to inform policy for the Biden administration
Media Highlight — Jul 29, 2021
A Carbon Calculation: How Many Deaths Do Emissions Cause?
RFF Senior Fellow Maureen Cropper comments on a new paper that estimates future lives lost due to climate change.
Media Highlight — May 25, 2021
How Much Damage Does Climate Change Cause in Colorado? Leaders Are Trying to Put a Price Tag on It.
Kevin Rennert, director of RFF's Social Cost of Carbon Initiative, is quoted by the Colorado Sun in a story about climate costs.
Press Release — May 17, 2021
As the Planet Warms, Mortality Could Rise—Along with the Social Cost of Carbon
In a new analysis of 70 papers, RFF Fellow Daniel Raimi weighs research on how climate change may affect temperature-related mortality—and notes holes in the data—to improve estimates of the social cost of carbon.
On the Issues — Aug 6, 2021
Examining the Biggest Environmental and Energy News of the Year So Far
A weekly newsletter connecting global current events, pressing climate and energy policy news, and economics research from RFF scholars.
Resources Magazine — May 20, 2021
Federal Climate Policy Toolkit: Reducing Emissions
Various US federal policy tools can help reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change. Key criteria can help policymakers weigh the value of these tools, accounting for innovation and ancillary effects like air pollution and environmental justice.
Resources Radio — Mar 2, 2021
Updates to the Social Cost of Carbon, with Kevin Rennert
Kevin Rennert discusses the Biden administration’s interim estimate for the social cost of carbon and what will happen next with this crucial number.