Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2023-176
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-2023-176
Submitted as: review and perspective paper
 | 
06 Sep 2023
Submitted as: review and perspective paper |  | 06 Sep 2023
Status: this preprint is currently under review for the journal GMD.

A perspective on the next generation of Earth system model scenarios: towards representative emission pathways (REPs)

Malte Meinshausen, Carl-Friedrich Schleussner, Kathleen Beyer, Greg Bodeker, Olivier Boucher, Josep G. Canadell, John S. Daniel, Aïda Diongue-Niang, Fatimah Driouech, Erich Fischer, Piers Forster, Michael Grose, Gerrit Hansen, Zeke Hausfather, Tatiana Ilyina, Jarmo S. Kikstra, Joyce Kimutai, Andrew King, June-Yi Lee, Chris Lennard, Tabea Lissner, Alexander Nauels, Glen P. Peters, Anna Pirani, Gian-Kasper Plattner, Hans Pörtner, Joeri Rogelj, Maisa Rojas, Joyashree Roy, Bjørn H. Samset, Benjamin M. Sanderson, Roland Séférian, Sonia Seneviratne, Christopher J. Smith, Sophie Szopa, Adelle Thomas, Diana Urge-Vorsatz, Guus J. M. Velders, Tokuta Yokohata, Tilo Ziehn, and Zebedee Nicholls

Abstract. In every IPCC Assessment cycle, a multitude of scenarios are assessed, with different scope and emphasis throughout the various Working Group and Special Reports and their respective chapters. Within the reports, the ambition is to integrate knowledge on possible climate futures across the Working Groups and scientific research domains based on a small set of ‘framing pathways’, such as the so-called RCP pathways from the Fifth IPCC Assessment report (AR5) and the SSP-RCP scenarios in the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). This perspective, initiated by discussions at the IPCC Bangkok workshop in April 2023 on the “Use of Scenarios in AR6 and Subsequent Assessments”, is intended to serve as one of the community contributions to highlight needs for the next generation of framing pathways that is being advanced under the CMIP umbrella for use in the IPCC AR7. Here we suggest a number of policy research objectives that such a set of framing pathways should ideally fulfil, including mitigation needs for meeting the Paris Agreement objectives, the risks associated with carbon removal strategies, the consequences of delay in enacting that mitigation, guidance for adaptation needs, loss and damage, and for achieving mitigation in the wider context of Societal Development goals. Based on this context we suggest that the next generation of climate scenarios for Earth System Models should evolve towards ‘Representative Emission Pathways’ (REPs) and suggest key categories for such pathways. These ‘framing pathways’ should address the most critical mitigation policy and adaptation needs over the next 5–10 years. In our view the most important categories are those relevant in the context of the Paris Agreement long-term goal, specifically an immediate action (low overshoot) 1.5 °C pathway, and a delayed action (high overshoot) 1.5 °C pathway. Two other key categories are a pathway category approximately in line with current (as expressed by 2023) near- and long-term policy objectives, and a higher emissions category that is approximately in line with “current policies” (as expressed by 2023). We also argue for the scientific and policy relevance in exploring two ‘worlds that could have been’. One of these categories has high emission trajectories well above what is implied by current policies, and the other has very low emission trajectories that assume that global mitigation action in line with limiting warming to 1.5 °C without overshoot had begun in 2015. Finally, we note that timely provision of new scientific information on pathways is critical to inform the development and implementation of climate policy. For the second Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement in 2028, and to inform subsequent development of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) up to 2040, scientific inputs are required well before 2028. These needs should be carefully considered in the development timeline of community modelling activities including those under CMIP7.

Malte Meinshausen et al.

Status: open (until 01 Nov 2023)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • CC1: 'A value-of-information lens is needed', Robert Kopp, 12 Sep 2023 reply
    • CC2: 'Reply on CC1', Zebedee R. Nicholls, 12 Sep 2023 reply
    • CC3: 'Reply on CC1', Malte Meinshausen, 13 Sep 2023 reply
      • CC4: 'Reply on CC3', Robert Kopp, 13 Sep 2023 reply
  • CC5: 'Comment on gmd-2023-176', Alexandre Magnan, 19 Sep 2023 reply
    • CC6: 'Reply on CC5', Malte Meinshausen, 20 Sep 2023 reply

Malte Meinshausen et al.

Malte Meinshausen et al.

Viewed

Total article views: 4,306 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
2,811 1,467 28 4,306 10 20
  • HTML: 2,811
  • PDF: 1,467
  • XML: 28
  • Total: 4,306
  • BibTeX: 10
  • EndNote: 20
Views and downloads (calculated since 06 Sep 2023)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 06 Sep 2023)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 4,179 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 4,179 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 23 Sep 2023
Download
Short summary
For the next generation of Earth System Model runs to project future climate change, the scientific community considers new scenarios to succeed RCPs and SSPs. As a contribution to that debate, we reflect on relevant policy and scientific research questions and suggest categories for Representative Emission Pathways (REP). These categories are tailored to the Paris Agreement long-term temperature goal, high-risk outcomes in the absence of further climate policy and worlds “that could have been”.