Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a metric used to compare the heat-trapping ability of different greenhouse gases relative to carbon dioxide (CO2) over a specified time period, typically ranging from 20 to 500 years. The GWP value reflects both how effectively a gas absorbs heat (radiative efficiency) and how long it remains in the atmosphere (atmospheric lifetime). By definition, CO2 has a GWP of 1 for any given timeframe, and other greenhouse gases are evaluated against this baseline. For instance, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) has a GWP of 15,100 over a 20-year period, meaning it traps 15,100 times more heat per unit mass than CO2 during that period. GWP is calculated by integrating the radiative forcing (energy absorbed) of a gas over the chosen time horizon and comparing it to that of CO2. This value helps policymakers and scientists quantify and compare the impact of various greenhouse gases in climate change mitigation strategies. GWP values are periodically updated as scientific understanding advances and are often standardized to 100 years in international climate policy.
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