Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs)

Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) are scenarios used in climate change research to project future greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. Each RCP reflects different levels of emissions and temperature rise, ranging from low-emission pathways that aim to limit global warming to higher-emission scenarios that lead to significant climate change impacts. The four main RCPs—2.6, 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5—represent varying degrees of mitigation efforts and their outcomes for the climate, helping policymakers and scientists understand potential futures based on current actions and policy decisions.