Glossary
How it is used
It is the multiplier that turns a tonne of any gas into tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Carbon dioxide is 1 by definition. Everything else is measured against it.
The values
| Gas | Potential over 100 years |
|---|---|
| Carbon dioxide | 1 |
| Methane, non-fossil | 27 |
| Methane, fossil | 29.8 |
| Nitrous oxide | 273 |
| Nitrogen trifluoride | 17,400 |
| Sulfur hexafluoride | 24,300 |
These come from the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. Earlier reports use slightly different values.
Why it matters
Two inventories with the same consumption can give different totals if they use different IPCC reports. That is why an inventory should say which values it applied, and why it helps to keep them when comparing one year with another.
It also explains something that surprises people the first time: a small refrigerant leak can weigh more than the fuel of several vehicles.
