Non-carbon dioxide emissions modeling in integrated assessment models: A review

Abstract

Modeling of non-carbon dioxide (non-CO2) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in integrated assessment models (IAMs) is critical to achieving long-term climate targets. This study selects nine IAMs to reveal the modeling mechanisms and mitigation of non-CO2 GHGs. It further explores the impact of heterogeneity in the consideration of non-CO2 GHGs in IAMs on the climate targets and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) measures. The study shows that some IAMs cover fewer mitigation measures and do not include agricultural non-CO2 GHG emissions or fluorinated gases. The achievement of long-term climate targets can be affected by the lower mitigation potential of non-CO2 GHGs and the heterogeneity in non-CO2 GHG emissions will add uncertainty to the amount of negative CDR emissions.

Keywords

• Non-CO2 GHGs
• Integrated assessment models
• Modeling mechanisms
• Climate targets
• CDR measures