{"id":2899,"date":"2022-04-26T12:50:08","date_gmt":"2022-04-26T12:50:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatetransform.com\/?p=2899"},"modified":"2022-07-13T06:49:05","modified_gmt":"2022-07-13T06:49:05","slug":"global-warming-potential","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatetransform.com\/global-warming-potential\/","title":{"rendered":"Global Warming Potential"},"content":{"rendered":"
Every year, we pump over 35 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases into the air. These gases trap heat and raise the planet\u2019s temperature.<\/span>1<\/sup><\/a><\/span> <\/span>But, these gases are not all the same. <\/span><\/p>\n Some, such as methane, do far more damage to the environment and raise temperatures faster than CO2, for example.<\/span>2<\/sup><\/a><\/span> But, how can we easily measure this and show the impact of these gases? This is where the Global Warming Potential (GWP) measure acts as a useful guide.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Global Warming Potential of gas is how much damage it causes, comparable to one unit of CO2, over one hundred years. <\/span><\/p>\n Imagine a factory that emits 100 tons of CO2 and 100 tons of methane into the air every year. Since methane is far worse for climate change<\/a> than CO2, scientists convert it and other greenhouse gases into their CO2 equivalent. This unit of measurement for each gas is called its Global Warming Potential. <\/span><\/p>\n As methane is regarded as roughly 28 times worse than CO2 over a hundred period, we can say that the factory emits 100 tons of CO2 and 2,800 tons of CO2 equivalent gases. Alternatively, it is equal to a total of 2,900 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) in emissions. <\/span><\/p>\n GWP makes it easier for the public to understand this and for scientists to have a simple measure.<\/span>3<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The GWP of a gas depends on two factors. Firstly, how well the gas traps heat in the atmosphere, and secondly, how long it takes to break down. Put simply, it is the amount of heat absorbed by a greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, compared to the same mass of carbon dioxide.<\/span><\/p>\n The GWP measure offers us a standard scale for measuring the climate effects of different gases. CO2 has a GWP value of 1, as it is the baseline, and it stays in the atmosphere for thousands of years. Methane has a GWP value of 28 to 36<\/a> over one hundred years. While it is far worse for trapping heat in the atmosphere, it also breaks down within a decade.<\/span>4<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gas will have a higher Global Warming Potential (GWP) figure depending on how much more heat it can trap than CO2 and how long it stays in the atmosphere. A gas such as nitrous oxide (N<\/span>2<\/span>O) has a GWP 265 to 298 times that of carbon dioxide over one hundred years. It remains in the atmosphere for more than one hundred years on average.<\/span>5<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Some gases, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and perfluorocarbons (PFCs), can be used in household products, can have GWPs in tens of thousands.<\/span>6<\/sup><\/a><\/span> By using the GWP method of calculation, scientists can differentiate between gases that are toxic for different periods of time. For example, the Global Warming Potential for methane would be higher if it lasted longer in the atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\n The GWP measure of a gas can also change over time, as scientists better understand its impact or its impact is adjusted depending on other gases. The GWP is also presented as ranges rather than specific numbers as there are multiple ways to calculate the measure.<\/span>7<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is frequently misunderstood as a savior for global warming. The aim of CCS technology is to capture carbon dioxide from large sources of emissions, such as power plants or factories before they are released into the air. This makes CCS technology a potentially valuable tool to slow down climate change<\/a> and prevent global warming. But, critics say the technology is too small-scale.<\/span>8<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Even if all CCS projects were fully operational worldwide, they would capture only around 130 million tonnes of CO2 every year. But the world emits approximately 35 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. So far, its impact has been a drop in the ocean.<\/span>9<\/sup><\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Nevertheless, CCUS technology is expected to play a part in the future, especially for industries that cannot decarbonize quickly. For example, steel and cement companies say decarbonization would cost hundreds of billions of dollars and, so far, they are unwilling to spend the money to decarbonize.<\/span>10<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\nWhat is the Global Warming Potential (GWP)?<\/h3>\n
What does the GWP of a gas depend on?<\/h3>\n
What does the GWP measure offer?<\/h3>\n
Which greenhouse gas has the highest Global Warming Potential (GWP)?<\/h3>\n
Other gases and their Global Warming Potential (GWP)<\/h3>\n
GWP changes<\/h3>\n
Can carbon capture eliminate global warming?<\/h3>\n
How much CO2 can we reduce with CCS?<\/h3>\n
Carbon capture is not carbon removal<\/h3>\n