Sustainable development trade-offs shape the acceptability of climate mitigation scenarios

Climate mitigation scenarios are typically evaluated for technical and economic feasibility, yet their implementation depends on whether they are considered acceptable within broader development priorities. Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) interactions create trade-offs that shape how mitigation strategies are perceived across regions. Combining integrated assessment modelling and stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis, we assess the acceptability of four narratives achieving a common mid-century climate target. We find that pathways with similar climate outcomes differ markedly in acceptability and that global rankings often mask regional divergences. Technology-led decarbonization is more acceptable in the Global South, enabling rapid gains in energy access and development. Conversely, regions in the Global North favour strategies that protect natural carbon sinks, reflecting greater ecosystem restoration benefits. These divergent preferences stem from structural SDG trade-offs, challenging universal win–win narratives. Explicitly accounting for these differences is essential for designing politically feasible and effective climate pathways.