Carbon Scoring Project
We’re helping decisionmakers understand the impact of different policy designs on carbon emissions and other key economic and social metrics.
Overview
Legislators need a comprehensive, impartial source of analysis on the carbon emissions of policies under consideration.
RFF is building a Carbon Scoring Project to model and analyze the impact of different proposed policy designs—assessing their impacts on carbon emissions and tracking progress against US goals for decarbonization. The project will also project effects on other decision metrics such as air quality, consumer prices, and adoption of clean technologies, among others. RFF's "carbon scores" will provide policymakers with quantitative and qualitative climate information about their bills reported in a standardized and accessible format.
This work is rooted in RFF's 70-year tradition of rigorous analysis, impartiality, and direct engagement with decisionmakers. Products will be fully transparent through the public availability of all model assumptions and source code, and will be provided on the rapid timescale that’s needed to support policy development.
For more about the project, see this blog post by RFF Fellows Aaron Bergman and Kevin Rennert and view the press release here.
The project is funded by The Carbon Zero Project, which focuses on accelerating the world’s achievement of rapid decarbonization.
RFF's Value
RFF is the leading authority on issues at the intersection of the environment and the economy—trusted by a diversity of stakeholders, from government and academics, to the business and environmental advocacy communities.
We also have unparalleled connections within the US climate and economic policy communities and our legacy and our future are built on delivering innovation to address the most important environmental issues of the day.
Highlights
Featured Content
- Highlights
- Publications
- Events
- Editorial
- News
RFF Live — Aug 10, 2022
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022: Modeling Major Climate and Energy Provisions
Examining the Inflation Reduction Act's projected effects on US emissions reductions and costs for US retail electricity consumers
Press Release — Mar 16, 2023
Resources for the Future Introduces Project to Measure Carbon Effects of Proposed Legislation
Today, researchers at Resources for the Future (RFF) are debuting the Carbon Scoring Project—an independent policy effort that will routinely and consistently “score” the effects of proposed US legislation for the benefit of policymakers.
Testimony and Public Comments — Aug 5, 2022
Inflation Reduction Act’s Proposed Methane Fee Would Have Negligible Impact on Natural Gas Prices
The impact on natural gas prices of the methane fee in the IRA would be negligible, and well under 1% of residential consumer prices.
Common Resources — Aug 15, 2022
Inflation Reduction Act Can Achieve Emissions Reductions Even with Oil and Gas Provisions
Research from RFF Fellow Brian C. Prest suggests that, overall, the Inflation Reduction Act reduces greenhouse gas emissions to a degree that far outweighs the potential increases in emissions due to the bill’s oil and gas leasing provisions.
Issue Brief — Aug 3, 2022
Retail Electricity Rates under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
In this issue brief, RFF researchers model the impact of the proposed Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 on consumer electricity prices, finding that it reduces the average American's electricity bill by $170-$220 a year.
Issue Brief — Oct 7, 2021
Cost Analysis and Emissions Projections under Power Sector Proposals in Reconciliation
In this issue brief, RFF researchers estimate the effects on the electricity sector of climate policy proposals being considered for the budget reconciliation process.
Issue Brief — Apr 27, 2021
Emissions Projections for a Trio of Federal Climate Policies
Emissions Projections for a Trio of Federal Climate Policies
Issue Brief — Sep 16, 2021
Emissions Projections under Alternative Climate Policy Proposals
In this issue brief, RFF researchers estimate the projected energy-related carbon dioxide emissions under different climate policy proposals.
RFF Live — Aug 10, 2022
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022: Modeling Major Climate and Energy Provisions
Examining the Inflation Reduction Act's projected effects on US emissions reductions and costs for US retail electricity consumers
RFF Live — Feb 15, 2023
Exploring the New Baseline for Electricity in the Presence of the Inflation Reduction Act
An RFF Live event exploring how the electricity sector is expected to transform in the coming decades as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Common Resources — Mar 16, 2023
New from Resources for the Future: The Carbon Scoring Project
Resources for the Future is launching its Carbon Scoring Project, an effort to provide policymakers with quantitative and qualitative climate information about their bills, reported in a standardized and accessible format.
Common Resources — Aug 15, 2022
Inflation Reduction Act Can Achieve Emissions Reductions Even with Oil and Gas Provisions
Research from RFF Fellow Brian C. Prest suggests that, overall, the Inflation Reduction Act reduces greenhouse gas emissions to a degree that far outweighs the potential increases in emissions due to the bill’s oil and gas leasing provisions.
Common Resources — Jun 7, 2024
Resources for the Future Evaluates First Set of Climate Policies under Carbon Scoring Project
Resources for the Future (RFF) has released its first assessment—called a “carbon score”—of key federal climate policies and their effects on US emissions. This carbon score sets a baseline for future assessments by RFF’s Carbon Scoring Project.
Media Highlight — Jun 1, 2023
The Hill: "How 'Carbon Scoring' Can Help Congress Make Real Progress on Climate Change"
An op-ed coauthored by RFF Fellow Kevin Rennert details RFF's new Carbon Scoring Project, as well as complementary research conducted by RFF and the Brookings Institution to involve emissions reductions in the legislative process.
Media Highlight — Apr 18, 2023
E&E News: "Q&A: The Experts Working on 'Scoring' Bills for Carbon"
This Q&A profiles Fellows Kevin Rennert and Aaron Bergman about RFF's new Carbon Scoring Project.
Media Highlight — Mar 17, 2023
Axios Generate: "1 Big Thing: The Case for 'Carbon Scoring' Bills"
The leading segment in an Axios Generate newsletter highlights RFF's new Carbon Scoring Project.
Press Release — Mar 16, 2023
Resources for the Future Introduces Project to Measure Carbon Effects of Proposed Legislation
Today, researchers at Resources for the Future (RFF) are debuting the Carbon Scoring Project—an independent policy effort that will routinely and consistently “score” the effects of proposed US legislation for the benefit of policymakers.