Decarbonization pathway

A decarbonization pathway is a way for something, such as a country or energy system, to reach a greenhouse gas emissions target, such as net zero by 2050. Nineteen of the G20 countries have announced net-zero targets for this time frame.{{Cite journal |last1=Gambhir |first1=Ajay |last2=Lempert |first2=Robert |date=2023-04-17 |title=From least cost to least risk: Producing climate change mitigation plans that are resilient to multiple risks |journal=Frontiers in Climate |language=English |volume=5 |doi=10.3389/fclim.2023.1149309 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2023FrCli...549309G |issn=2624-9553|hdl=10044/1/103628 |hdl-access=free }} Decarbonization pathways aim to limit climate change, and include technology, economy and policy.{{Cite web |title=Decarbonization Pathways Studies Approach: Frequently Asked Questions with Answers from Experts |url=https://files.unsdsn.org/Decarbonization%20Pathway%20Studies%20FAQs.pdf}}

Some pathways cover a particular sector: for example, the Road Transport Decarbonization Pathway (RTDP) tool,{{Cite web |title=Driving low-emission mobility in Indonesia |url=https://www.sei.org/features/driving-low-emission-mobility-in-indonesia/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=SEI |language=en-GB}} and the Deep Decarbonization Pathways initiative which is for the energy sector. Whereas others cover a country or city, such as London.{{Cite web |title=Pathways to Net Zero Carbon by 2030 {{!}} London City Hall |url=https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/environment-and-climate-change/climate-change/zero-carbon-london/pathways-net-zero-carbon-2030 |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=www.london.gov.uk |language=en-gb}} There can also be pathways for organizations, such as companies,{{Cite web |title=Pathways to Decarbonization: Why IT Companies Can and Need to Do More to Reduce Supply Chain Carbon Emissions |url=https://stand.earth/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IT_Brands_Responsibility_Final.pdf}} or things such as buildings.{{Cite web |title=Decarbonisation Pathways – CRREM Global |url=https://www.crrem.org/pathways/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |language=en-GB}} Pathways may include behavioral change, such as sometimes riding a bicycle rather than travelling by car.{{Cite report |url=https://ipc.sabanciuniv.edu/Content/Images/CKeditorImages/20211103-20111678.pdf |title=Turkey's Decarbonization Pathway Net Zero in 2050 Executive Summary |last=Şahin |first=Umit}}

Some countries plan and discuss their decarbonization pathways years in advance, for example the 2025 consultation on extending the UK Emissions Trading Scheme beyond 2030.{{Cite web |title=Extending the UK ETS cap beyond 2030 (English consultation document - HTML version) |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/extending-the-uk-emissions-trading-scheme-cap-beyond-2030/extending-the-uk-ets-cap-beyond-2030-english-consultation-document-html-version |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} Whereas some other countries have clear targets but the pathways for their sectors to get there is unclear, for example China targets net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060 but as of 2024 it is unclear how their iron and steel sector will achieve that.{{Cite web |title=Accelerating Industrial Decarbonization in China |url=https://rmi.org/insight/accelerating-industrial-decarbonization-in-china-key-climate-actions-for-iron-and-steel-companies/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=RMI |language=en-US}}

Mitigation pathways can examine robust solutions in multiple scenarios, by using decisionmaking under deep uncertainty (DMDU) to stress test actions and identify vulnerabilities of pathways.