Methodological and conceptual shortcomings of MEECC limit its transparency and policy relevance

Roberto Schaeffer, Marina Andrijevic, Jarmo Kikstra, Alexander Nauels, Mingyu Li, Carl-Friedrich Schleussner, Keywan Riahi

Kanitkar, Jayaraman & Lavanyaa (KJL from here on) introduce the Model for Energy Equity and Climate Compatibility (MEECC_V.1), an analytical tool positioned as an alternative integrated assessment framework. MEECC is intended to facilitate the construction of scenarios to operationalize climate-compatibility, equity, and feasibility. The attention to the development-mitigation nexus and equitable effort-sharing in the context of global mitigation pathways is necessary and overdue, and we share it without reservation. Yet, we identify a number of methodological and conceptual shortcomings of the MEEC model that raise questions about its scientific robustness and ability to inform policy.