RCP (Representative Concentration Pathways)

RCPs, or Representative Concentration Pathways, are scenarios used by climate scientists to project future climate change based on different levels of greenhouse gas emissions. They represent possible ways the world might develop, considering factors like energy use and policy actions. Each RCP is labeled with a number that indicates the approximate amount of radiative forcing (or climate impact) by 2100, measured in watts per square meter. For example, RCP 2.6 predicts low emissions and relatively limited warming, while RCP 8.5 suggests high emissions and substantial warming. These pathways help researchers understand potential climate futures and inform policy decisions.