對於這四個路徑的簡短描述如下： RCP2.6是"非常嚴格"的途徑。[4]RCP4.5被IPCC描述為一種中間情景。[5]在RCP6路徑之下，溫室氣體排放量會在2080年左右達到峰值，之後下降。[6]在RCP8.5路徑下，溫室氣體排放量於整個21世紀之中將持續上升。[7]:Figure 2, p. 223
IPCC將RCP4.5路徑描述為一種中間情景。[5]根據RCP 4.5路徑，溫室氣體排放量會在2040年左右達到峰值，然後下降。[7]:Figure 2, p. 223根據學界中資源專家的說法，IPCC的排放情景偏向誇大化石燃料儲量的可用性。如果把這類不可再生燃料的可能耗盡特性列入考慮，RCP4.5是最可能的基線情景（在全球未執行任何氣候政策狀況之下）。[15][16]
根據IPCC，RCP4.5路徑，設定二氧化碳排放量在2045年左右開始下降，到2100年時的水平大約是2050年的一半。 並設定甲烷排放量在2050年之前不再增加，並略為下降至2040年水準的75%左右，二氧化硫排放量下降至1980年至1990年期間平均約20%。RCP4.5路徑設定執行二氧化碳負排放措施（例如種植樹木以吸收二氧化碳），與其他RCP路徑相同。在RCP4.5路徑中的負排放量將達到平均每年2吉噸二氧化碳。[13]RCP4.5路徑到2100年相當可能（More likely than not， 50–100%機率，參見IPCC第五次評估報告）導致全球氣溫上升2°C至3°C，平均海平面上升比RCP2.6路徑高出35%。[17]許多植物和動物物種將無法對RCP4.5及更高RCP路徑的影響作調適。[18]
在RCP8.5路徑，溫室氣體排放在整個21世紀中持續上升。[7]:Figure 2, p. 223雖然第五次評估報告（AR5）認為這情景非常不可能發生，但由於科學界對於氣候變化反饋尚未有很好的理解，因此無法排除發生的可能。[20][21]RCP8.5路徑通常被視為氣候變化情景中最壞的情況，是根據大量使用化石燃料後的結果。也是根據當前和既定政策來預測本世紀中葉（及更早）溫室氣體排放導致的結果。[22]
^IPCC 2013: Technical Summary(PDF) (报告). the uncertainty is now estimated to be smaller than with the AR4 method for long-term climate change, because the carbon cycle–climate feedbacks are not relevant for the concentration-driven RCP projections[失效連結]
^IPCC AR5- Technical Summary- TFE.7 Carbon Cycle Perturbation and Uncertainties(PDF) (报告). With very high confidence, ocean carbon uptake of anthropogenic CO2 emissions will continue under all four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) through to 2100, with higher uptake corresponding to higher concentration pathways. The future evolution of the land carbon uptake is much more uncertain, with a majority of models projecting a continued net carbon uptake under all RCPs, but with some models simulating a net loss of carbon by the land due to the combined effect of climate change and land use change. In view of the large spread of model results and incomplete process representation, there is low confidence on the magnitude of modelled future land carbon changes.[失效連結]
^Ward, James D.; Mohr, Steve H.; Myers, Baden R.; Nel, William P. High estimates of supply constrained emissions scenarios for long-term climate risk assessment. Energy Policy. December 2012, 51: 598–604. doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2012.09.003.
^Höök M, Sivertsson A, Aleklett K. Validity of the Fossil Fuel Production Outlooks in the IPCC Emission Scenarios. Natural Resources Research. 2010-02-18, 19 (2): 63–81 [2021-10-10]. S2CID 14389093. doi:10.1007/s11053-010-9113-1. It is found that the SRES unnecessarily takes an overoptimistic stance and that future production expectations are leaning toward spectacular increases from present output levels. In summary, we can only encourage the IPCC to involve more resource experts and natural science in future emission scenarios.
^Laherrère, Jean. Estimates of Oil Reserves(PDF). EMF/IEA/IEW meeting. IIASA. 2001-06-10 [2021-10-10]. （原始内容存档(PDF)于2023-10-29）. It is obvious that the IPCC assumptions for oil and gas are based on the assumption of abundant cheap oil and gas. This concept has to be revised.
