lowglobalwarmingpotential

Low global warming potential refers to substances whose capacity to trap heat in the atmosphere is small relative to carbon dioxide over a chosen time horizon. The term is commonly used in climate policy and industry to identify substitutes for higher-GWP substances in applications such as refrigerants, solvents, foams, and aerosols.

Global warming potential (GWP) is a metric that compares the integrated radiative forcing of a unit mass of a greenhouse gas to that of CO2 over a specified period, usually 100 years. GWP values depend on a gas’s radiative efficiency and atmospheric lifetime. The 100-year horizon is widely used, though other horizons exist. GWP is a useful planning tool but has limitations: it aggregates many effects into a single number and does not capture toxicity, flammability, or energy use, nor does it reflect lifecycle emissions or regional impacts.

Low-GWP substances are pursued to reduce long-term warming potential in products and processes. Examples include carbon dioxide (GWP of about 1), ammonia (negligible direct GWP due to non-IR absorption), and certain hydrocarbons or low-GWP refrigerants and blowing agents (such as some hydrofluoroolefins) that have far smaller GWPs than many traditional alternatives. However, other safety concerns—toxicity, flammability, or ozone considerations—also influence substitution decisions.

In practice, the selection of low-GWP alternatives involves balancing climate impact with safety, efficiency, and regulatory compliance. The concept is central to efforts to decarbonize sectors like refrigeration, air conditioning, and foam production.