Representative Concentration Pathways (Q953)
Subject, term, tag: Representative Concentration Pathways
- Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs)
| Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Representative Concentration Pathways |
Subject, term, tag: Representative Concentration Pathways |
|
Statements
IPCC Glossary v1.5
1 reference
27 May 2026
Scenarios that include time series of emissions and concentrations of the full suite of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and aerosols and chemically active gases, as well as land use / land cover (Moss et al.,2008; van Vuuren et al., 2011). The word representative signifies that each RCP provides only one of many possible scenarios that would lead to the specific radiative forcing characteristics. The term pathway emphasises that not only the long-term concentration levels are of interest, but also the trajectory taken over time to reach that outcome (Moss et al., 2010; van Vuuren et al., 2011). • RCP2.6: One pathway where radiative forcing peaks at approximately 3 W m –2 and then declines to be limited at 2.6 W m –2 in 2100 (the corresponding Extended Concentration Pathway, or ECP, has constant emissions after 2100). • RCP4.5 and RCP6.0: Two intermediate stabilisation pathways in which radiative forcing is limited at approximately 4.5 W m –2 and 6.0 W m –2 in 2100 (the corresponding ECPs have constant concentrations after 2150). • RCP8.5: One high pathway which leads to >8.5 W m –2 in 2100 (the corresponding ECP has constant emissions after 2100 until 2150 and constant concentrations after 2250). (English)
IPCC Glossary v1.5
1 reference
27 May 2026