How do scientists predict what the climate could look like decades, or even centuries, from now? In this episode of People, Places, Planet, host Natalie Triana sits down with John Doherty, Science and Policy Analyst at ELI, to unpack climate emissions scenarios: what they are, how they inform climate models, and why they matter for decision-making and planning.
From Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) and Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) to the latest generation of emissions scenarios, the conversation explores how scientists model possible climate futures based on different assumptions about energy use, population, economic growth, and other factors. We also discuss why these scenarios evolve over time, what the latest updates reveal about potential future warming, and how these projections inform climate policy. If you’ve ever wondered what lies behind projections of global warming or sea-level rise, this episode breaks down the science and assumptions that help inform our view of the planet’s future.
