What helps to inform global climate policy according to IPCC findings?

The choice that helps to inform global climate policy according to IPCC findings is based on reports that utilize representative concentration pathways (RCPs). RCPs are scenarios that project the potential impacts of different levels of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. By examining these pathways, researchers can model how various factors contribute to climate change under different emission scenarios, assessing potential impacts on temperature, sea level rise, and other climate variables.

Rooted in rigorous scientific methodology, these reports provide a systematic basis for understanding the implications of various climate policies and actions. They present a range of outcomes based on diverse assumptions about future economic growth, technological advancement, and societal behavior. This knowledge is critical for policymakers, as it allows them to craft informed and effective climate strategies that address potential future scenarios and mitigate climate change.

In contrast, personal opinions of scientists may lack the empirical basis needed for policy formation, while economic forecasts alone do not encompass the complex interactions of climatic systems. Local climate variations, while important for specific regional assessments, do not provide the comprehensive overview needed for global climate policy decisions, which require broader, systemic insights like those derived from RCP analyses.