Editing IPCC:AR6/WGII/Chapter-18 (section)

=== FAQ 18.1 | What is a climate resilient development pathway? ===

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A pathway is defined in IPCC reports as a temporal evolution of natural and/or human systems towards a future state. Pathways can range from sets of scenarios or narratives of potential futures to solution-oriented decision-making processes to achieve desirable societal goals. Climate resilient development pathways (CRDPs) are therefore trajectories for the pursuit of climate resilient development (CRD) and navigating its complexities. They involve ongoing processes that strengthen sustainable development, eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities while promoting fair adaptation and mitigation across multiple scales. As the pursuit of CRDPs is contingent on achieving larger-scale societal transformation, CRDPs invariably raise questions of ethics, equity and feasibility of options to drastically reduce emission of greenhouse gasses (mitigation) that limit global warming (e.g., to well below 2°C) and achieve desirable and liveable futures and well-being for all.

There in no one, correct pathway for CRD, but rather multiple pathways depending on factors such as the political, cultural and economic contexts in which different actors find themselves. Some development pathways are more consistent with CRD, while others move society away from CRD. Moreover, CRDPs are not one single decision or action. Rather, CRDPs represent a continuum of coherent, consistent decisions, actions and interventions that evolve within individual communities, nations, and the world. Different actors, the private sector, and civil society, influenced by science, local and Indigenous knowledges, and the media play a role in designing and navigating CRD pathways.

While dependent on past patterns of development and their socio-ethical, political, economic, ecological and knowledge-technology outcomes at any point in time, transformation, ecological tipping points and shocks can create sudden shifts and unexpected nonlinear development pathways. Actions taken today can enable or foreclose some future potential CRDPs. The differentiated impacts of hurricanes and COVID-19 on nations and communities around the world illustrate how the character of societal development such as equity and inclusion have enabled some societies to be more resilient than others.

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