Projected global and national energy and climate futures using an alternative integrated assessment framework

Abstract This study details a global mitigation pathways model, ‘Model for Energy Equity and Climate Compatibility_Version.1’ (MEECC_V.1)’, with a user interface, using a modelling approach that is a significant departure from all current economy-energy-emissions models, or Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs). It uses economy-wide metrics for projecting socio-economic futures, particularly considering those that are necessary for equity considerations, including convergence of energy use and national incomes across the global North and South and equitable access to the global carbon budget. The modelling approach enables users to explore a range of energy and climate futures instead of determining them based on least cost-optimisation frameworks. The analysis uses a development-based classification of countries as opposed to the commonly used geographical classification for developing countries in current IAMs. Results for a few illustrative scenarios are presented that demonstrate how the model enables the assessment of trade-offs between achieving equitable energy and climate futures.