6.3.8 (HL)—IPCC emissions scenarios

The IPCC's five illustrative scenarios are conditional pathways based on future greenhouse-gas emissions and socioeconomic choices, not guaranteed forecasts.

Compare scenario assumptions and then read projected temperature, sea level or other outputs. The IPCC cannot determine which society must occur because future policies and choices remain uncertain.

The range shows how choices change risk and why both mitigation and adaptation targets matter.

A scenario label is not a probability or prediction by itself; it is an if–then pathway.