Types
The following types of evaluation criteria are defined.
| TYPE | DESCRIPTION | EVALUATION OUTCOMES |
|---|---|---|
Historical Vetting |
Historical vetting criteria check for the alignment of scenarios with historical data. Scenarios are marked as inconsistent if they do not match reported historical real-world estimates for time periods in the past. Misalignment of a scenario means that the scenario is or has become impossible, which can often be the outcome of outdatedness of older scenarios. | ok: Consistent with historical datafailed: Inconsistent with historical datainsufficient reporting: Variable not reported |
Feasibility Concern |
Feasibility criteria check for the alignment of scenarios with near-term trends and long-term developments across sectors. In the near future (i.e. next 5 years), scenarios are flagged if they substantially deviate from project announcements and market outlooks. In particular, installment rates are unlikely to exceed announced projects for technologies with long lead times (e.g. hydropower, nuclear power or carbon capture and storage). Moreover, near-term market forecasts for technologies with established markets (e.g. solar PV or wind) provide corridors of installment rates that are unlikely to be subceeded or exceeded. In the longer future (i.e. 2035 and beyond), scenarios are flagged if they report technology growth rates that are inconsistent with general growth expectations. While going above or below these near-term and long-term thresholds is not strictly impossible, those developments would require unconventional implementation and growth rates. | ok: No feasibility concernsmedium: Moderate feasibility concernshigh: Strong feasibility concernsnot assigned: Variable not reported |
Sustainability Concern |
Sustainability criteria check for the alignment of scenarios with sustainability targets other than climate-change mitigation. Scenarios are flagged if they report the use of technologies, activities or practices at a level that goes beyond what would be sustainable in those other non-climate ecosystem targets. The thresholds for sustainability criteria are derived from literature focussing on the respective sustainability targets. Misalignment of a scenario does not mean that the scenario is impossible or infeasible, but rather that it is undesirable from a non-climate sustainability perspective. | ok: No sustainability concernsmedium: Moderate sustainability concernshigh: Strong sustainability concernsnot assigned: Variable not reported |