6.5.2. Greenhouse Warming Potentials

Although there are a number of ways of measuring and contrasting the radiative forcing potential of different greenhouse gases, the Global Warming Potential (GWP) is perhaps the most useful, particularly as a policy instrument. GWPs take account of the various factors influencing the radiative forcing potential of greenhouse gases. Such measures combine the calculations of the absorption strength of a molecule with assessments of its atmospheric lifetime; it can also include the indirect greenhouse effects due to chemical changes in the atmosphere caused by the gas. A number of GWPs are listed in Table 6.3 (IPCC, 1995).

Table 6.3. Global Warming Potentials of the major greenhouse gases