CO2egyenértékre

CO2egyenértékre, often translated as CO2 equivalent or CO2eq, is a unit used to express the global warming potential of greenhouse gases in relation to carbon dioxide. Different greenhouse gases have varying abilities to trap heat in the atmosphere. For example, methane is more potent than carbon dioxide over a shorter timeframe, and nitrous oxide is even more potent. The CO2egyenértékre concept standardizes these differences by converting the warming impact of other gases into the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide that would produce the same warming effect over a specific period, typically 100 years.

This conversion is achieved by multiplying the mass of a particular greenhouse gas by its global warming potential (GWP) value. The GWP is a relative measure, with carbon dioxide assigned a GWP of 1. For instance, if methane has a GWP of 25, then one tonne of methane is equivalent to 25 tonnes of carbon dioxide in terms of its warming impact over 100 years. The CO2egyenértékre unit is crucial for climate change calculations, emissions reporting, and setting climate policy. It allows for a comprehensive assessment of the total climate impact of various emissions sources, enabling comparisons and the development of mitigation strategies that address all significant greenhouse gases.