Global warming potentials
All greenhouse gases (GHGs) are not equal. In fact, each greenhouse gas has a unique atmospheric lifetime and heat-trapping potential.
Global Warming Potential (GWP) metric has been developed to allow the comparison of the ability of each greenhouse gas to trap heat in the atmosphere relative to carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide CO2) over a specified time horizon. Often, greenhouse gas emissions are calculated in terms of how much CO2 would be required to produce a similar warming effect oven the chosen time horizon. This is called the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2 eq) value and is calculated by multiplying the amount of gas by its associated global warming potential (GWP).
Consistent with Decision 24/CP.19 the 100-year Global Warming Potentials (GWPs), provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its Fourth Assessment Report (SAR) are required for inventory reporting under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). These global warming potential (GWPs) are also required for facility greenhouse gas reporting, under Section 46 (S.46) of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act.
Global warming potentials for greenhouse gases
| Greenhouse Gas | Formula | Second Assessment Reporta | Fourth Assessment Reportb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon dioxide | CO2 | 1 | 1 |
| Methane | CH4 | 21 | 25 |
| Nitrous oxide | N2O | 310 | 298 |
| Sulphur hexafluoride | SF6 | 23 900 | 22 800 |
| Nitrogen trifluoride | NF3 | - | 17 200 |
Note: '-' indicates that a GWP for this GHG was not available in the IPCC Second Assessment Report.
b Data source: IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report - Errata (IPCC 2012).
| Greenhouse Gas | Formula | Second Assessment Reporta | Fourth Assessment Reportb |
|---|---|---|---|
| HFC-23 | CHF3 | 11 700 | 14 800 |
| HFC-32 | CH2F2 | 650 | 675 |
| HFC-41 | CH3F | 150 | 92 |
| HFC-43-10mee | CF3CHFCHFCF2CF3 | 1 300 | 1 640 |
| HFC-125 | CHF2CF3 | 2 800 | 3 500 |
| HFC-134 | CHF2CHF2 | 1 000 | 1 100 |
| HFC-134a | CH2FCF3 | 1 300 | 1 430 |
| HFC-143 | CH2FCHF2 | 300 | 353 |
| HFC-143a | CH3CF3 | 3 800 | 4 470 |
| HFC-152 | CH2FCH2F | - | 53 |
| HFC-152a | CH3CHF2 | 140 | 124 |
| HFC-161 | CH3CH2F | - | 12 |
| HFC-227ea | CF3CHFCF3 | 2 900 | 3 220 |
| HFC-236cb | CH2FCF2CF3 | - | 1 340 |
| HFC-236ea | CHF2CHFCF3 | - | 1 370 |
| HFC-236fa | CF3CH2CF3 | 6 300 | 9 810 |
| HFC-245ca | CH2FCF2CHF2 | 560 | 693 |
| HFC-245fa | CHF2CH2CF3 | - | 1 030 |
| HFC-265mfc | CH3CF2CH2CF3 | - | 794 |
Note: '-' indicates that a GWP for this GHG was not available in the IPCC Second Assessment Report.
b Data source: IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report - Errata (IPCC 2012).
| Greenhouse Gas | Formula | Second Assessment Reporta | Fourth Assessment Reportb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluoromethane | CF4 | 6 500 | 7 390 |
| Perfluoroethane | C2F6 | 9 200 | 12 200 |
| Perfluoropropane | C3F8 | 7 000 | 8 830 |
| Perfluorobutane | C4F10 | 7 000 | 8 860 |
| Perfluorocyclobutane | c-C4F8 | 8 700 | 10 300 |
| Perfluoropentane | C5F12 | 7 500 | 9 160 |
| Perfluorohexane | C6F14 | 7 400 | 9 300 |
| Perfluorodecalin | C10F18 | - | 7 500 |
| Perfluorocyclopropane | c-C3F6 | - | 17 340 |
Note: '-' indicates that a GWP for this GHG was not available in the IPCC Second Assessment Report.
b Data source: IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report - Errata (IPCC 2012).
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