What is Global Warming Potential (GWP)?

Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere compared to CO2 (reference = 1) over a specific time period.

What is GWP?

• Definition: It is a standardized scale used to compare the warming impact of different gases.
• Reference Point: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is used as the baseline because it is the most prevalent greenhouse gas emitted by human activities.

In simple terms: GWP tells how “dangerous” a gas is for global warming relative to CO2.

🔹 Key Concepts:

The GWP values of common greenhouse gases (on a 100-year basis) include:

• CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) → GWP = 1 (The baseline)
• CH4 (Methane) → ~28 times stronger than CO2
• N2O (Nitrous Oxide) → ~300 times stronger than CO2
• Fluorinated gases (F-gases) → Extremely high GWP (can be thousands of times stronger than CO2)

It Depends On:

The GWP of a gas is calculated based on three primary factors:

1. Heat-trapping ability (Radiative Efficiency): How effectively the gas absorbs energy.
2. Atmospheric lifetime: How long the gas remains in the atmosphere before breaking down or being removed.
3. Time period: The specific time horizon used for the calculation—typically 20, 100, or 500 years.

Why It Matters?

• Policy Planning: It helps governments and scientists decide which gas emissions to prioritize for reduction.
• Carbon Accounting: GWP allows different gases to be converted into “CO2equivalents” (CO2) so that total emissions can be tracked as a single number.

About Fluorinated Gases (F-gases):

What are F-gases?

Fluorinated gases (F-gases) are man-made greenhouse gases containing fluorine, known for their very high Global Warming Potential (GWP) and long atmospheric life.

In simple terms:

They are extremely powerful heat-trapping gases used in modern industries.

Types of F-gases:

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs):

• Used in refrigerators, air conditioners

Perfluorocarbons (PFCs):

• Used in electronics & aluminum production

Sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆):

• Used in electrical equipment (insulator)

Nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃):

• Used in semiconductor manufacturing

Key Features:

• Very high GWP (hundreds to thousands times CO₂)
• Long atmospheric lifetime
• Synthetic (not naturally occurring)
• Small quantity →huge warming impact