What Is the SLCI Credit Price Standard™ and How Does It Work?

The SLCI Credit Price Standard™ is a Social Cost of Carbon (SCC)-based carbon credit pricing standard that converts the social and economic damage associated with carbon emissions into a monetary value.

The social and economic impacts of global carbon dioxide emissions are becoming increasingly severe, yet they are rarely directly quantified. Carbon footprints are typically treated merely as a technical metric in tons (tCO₂), without associating them with the financial damage that emissions impose on society as a whole.

The SLCI Credit Price Standard™ addresses this gap by connecting carbon footprint with the economic value of social damage, represented by the Social Cost of Carbon (SCC). This provides a pricing basis in which the value of carbon credits can be assessed not only through market supply and demand, but also through the social cost of carbon emissions.

🧮 SLCI Social Cost of Carbon Calculator – Calculate the Social Cost of Your Carbon Footprint

Carbon Footprint (tCO₂):

Social Cost of Carbon (USD/tCO₂):

Custom SCC Value (USD/tCO₂):

Social Damage Value:

How Does the SLCI Calculate Social Cost?

Social Damage (USD) = Carbon Footprint (tCO₂) × SCC (USD/tCO₂)

This mathematically simple but policy-relevant relationship makes it possible to directly assign a monetary value to the social damage associated with any carbon footprint. The SCC (Social Cost of Carbon) represents the estimated economic cost imposed on society by one ton of carbon dioxide emissions.

The SLCI uses this value to provide a reference basis for carbon credit pricing that also takes the social cost of carbon emissions into account.

Social Cost of Carbon (SCC) – Scientific Sources and Values

EPA 2015/2016

42-138

USD/tCO₂

RFF/Nature 2022

185

USD/tCO₂

Bilal-Kanzig 2024

1056-1500

USD/tCO₂

Potsdam/Nature 2025

~1300

USD/tCO₂

                Recommendation:
                The 1000-1500 USD/tCO₂ range can be considered a relevant
                benchmark for the 2020s, as these values best reflect current
                and future social risks.

            

📈 Detailed SCC Data and Analysis

SLCI Applications in Carbon Credit Pricing and ESG

Carbon credit pricing: An SCC-based reference or minimum price reflecting the estimated social cost of emissions in the VCM (voluntary carbon market).
Climate protection project financing: Emissions offsetting through SCC-proportional compensation, supporting decarbonization efforts.
Product labeling and consumer information: Displaying social damage supports ethical decision-making and conscious consumption.
Public procurement decisions: SCC-based evaluation at governmental and institutional levels to support sustainable procurement.
Corporate valuation and goodwill: Emission reductions can contribute to corporate reputation and brand value.
ESG compatibility: Direct alignment with the environmental component of the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) framework.
Risk management: Quantification of climate risks and strategic planning for future regulatory changes.

Carbon Credit Prices and the Social Cost of Carbon

                
                    Current Situation – VCM Prices
                
                        Average carbon credit price in the voluntary carbon
                        market (VCM):
                        30-50 USD/tCO₂
                    
                        This represents only 2-5% of the
                        latest SCC estimates (1056-1500 USD/tCO₂).
                    
                        Consequence:
                        Emissions offsetting remains underfunded.

Recommended Target Values for Achieving the 2°C Goal

By 2030: carbon credit prices should reach at least 30-50% of SCC (450-750 USD/tCO₂).
By 2035: carbon credit prices should reach the full SCC value (~1500 USD/tCO₂).

Important: The SLCI Credit Price Standard™ does not adapt to market compromises but serves as a compass. The market must adapt to scientifically estimated social costs – not vice versa.

SLCI License and Access

The SLCI Credit Price Standard™ is open access, freely applicable and further developable. The only condition is proper attribution to the original creator and reference to the applicable license.

License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)

Complete documentation is available on the OurOffset platform .