RCP85

RCP85 is a climate change scenario that represents a plausible future emissions pathway. It is one of four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for use in climate modeling. RCP85 is characterized by a high greenhouse gas emissions trajectory, with emissions continuing to rise throughout the 21st century and beyond. This scenario assumes limited or no climate mitigation policies are implemented globally.

Under RCP85, global average temperatures are projected to increase significantly by the end of the century, leading to substantial impacts on the climate system. These impacts include further sea level rise, more frequent and intense extreme weather events such as heatwaves and heavy rainfall, and alterations in precipitation patterns. The scenario's high emissions are driven by factors such as continued reliance on fossil fuels for energy, population growth, and limited adoption of low-carbon technologies.

RCP85 serves as a reference point for understanding the potential consequences of unchecked greenhouse gas emissions. It is used by scientists to explore the upper bounds of future climate change and its associated risks. While other RCPs explore different emission pathways, including those with significant mitigation efforts, RCP85 highlights a potential future if substantial global action to reduce emissions does not occur. Analyzing this scenario helps in assessing the urgency and scale of climate action required to avoid the most severe climate impacts.