Global warming potential

Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere over a specific time, usually 20 or 100 years, compared to carbon dioxide (CO₂). Since different gases have different abilities to warm the Earth, GWP helps compare their impacts. For example, methane has a higher GWP than CO₂, meaning it can trap more heat in a given time period. GWP allows us to understand and quantify the relative influence of various gases on global warming, aiding in better climate policy and emission reduction efforts.