Emission mitigation scenarios are based on policies and usually developed in relation to a reference scenario.  The policies need to be translated to measures or measure bundles, that means a combination of different measures.  Measures are distinguished into technical and non- technical measures.  Technical measures have an impact on emission factors and non-technical measures affect the activities of the reference scenario. A measure needs to be clearly defined by description of the following issues:

• Name/title of the measure
• Pollutants that are reduced by the measure
• A short description
  
  • Technical description
  • Affected activity sector
  • Country specific current implementation degree
  • Country specific maximum  implementation degree
• Reduction potential(s)
• Cost
• Approach for implementation
• State of implementation
• Time horizon for implementation
• Data sources/References

Emission mitigation scenarios describe a future state in relation to the emission reference scenario. In most cases there exists an end point, the Maximum feasible reduction (MFR) scenario. This scenario describes the maximum mitigation potential, if all available measures are combined in a policy. Policy scenarios typically define cost-efficient target points between the MFR scenario and the baseline scenario.