GHG
GHG
- June 7, 2021
- Northmore Gordon
Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere. They all have different global warming potentials (GWP) over different time frames, the higher the number, the worse the impact. For simplicity of accounting everything is referenced back to carbon dioxide which has a global warming potential of 1. There are over 200 GHGs listed in the IPCC fifth assessment report, a sample are below. Note that in current carbon accounting standards the 100 year GWP is used.
| Greenhouse gas | 20 year GWP | 100 year GWP |
| Carbon dioxide CO2 | 1 | 1 |
| Methane CH4 | 84 | 28 |
| Hydrofluorocarbon HFC-134a | 3710 | 1300 |
| Chlorofluorocarbon CFC-11 | 6900 | 4660 |
| Nitrous Oxide N2O | 264 | 265 |
| Sulfur hexafluoride SF6 | 17,500 | 23,500 |
Get in touch
Australia
1300 854 561 (Advisory)
1300 878 500 (Certificates)
Melbourne
Suite 1, Level 4
607 Bourke Street
Melbourne
VIC 3000
Singapore
Singapore
1 Keong Saik Road,
Singapore 089109
Stay up to date
mailto:%20info@northmoregordon.com https://twitter.com/northmoregordon https://www.linkedin.com/company/northmore-gordon-pty-ltd https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdGc6mABpL2XxVUCrVjYQ1gAlternatively, complete the form and we will be in
touch with you.
Services
- Energy Audit Services
- M&V Services
- EEO Assessments
- Corporate Energy and Carbon Management
- Grants and Program
- Strategic Energy Sourcing
- Virtual Energy Manager
- Climate Active Certification
Sectors
- Animal Processing
- Chemical Processing
- Commercial Buildings
- Food & Beverage
- Manufacturing
- Mining
- Oil & Gas
- Pharmaceutical & Health Products
- Public Sector
- Waste & Wastewater
- Wood, Paper & Cardboard Processing
Upgrades
- Boiler Upgrades
- Commercial Lighting
- Hot Water Systems
- Mid Scale Solar
- NABERS
- Public Lighting
- Refrigerated Display Cabinets
- Solar PV Small Scale
- UPS
Certificates
- Live Certificate Prices
- International Renewable Energy Certificates
- Tradable Instrument for Global Renewables
- Australian Carbon Credit Units
- Energy Savings Certificates
- Large-scale Generation Certificates
- Small-scale Technology Certificates
- Victorian Energy Efficiency Certificates
Government Schemes
Helpful Links
What is a greenhouse gas (GHG)?
According to Northmore Gordon's glossary, greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere. Each gas has a different global warming potential (GWP) over different time frames, and the higher the GWP number, the worse the impact. The knowledge-base context adds that GHGs are emissions expressed on a carbon-dioxide-equivalent basis using a stated methodology, representing various gases that contribute to climate change.
What is global warming potential (GWP)?
Global warming potential (GWP) is a measure of a greenhouse gas's impact on trapping heat in the atmosphere over a given time frame. The higher the GWP number, the worse the impact. For simplicity of accounting, all gases are referenced back to carbon dioxide, which has a GWP of 1.
How many greenhouse gases are listed in the IPCC fifth assessment report, and does the page list them all?
There are over 200 GHGs listed in the IPCC fifth assessment report. The Northmore Gordon glossary page provides only a sample of these gases in its table.
Which GWP time frame is used in current carbon accounting standards?
According to the page, the 100-year GWP is used in current carbon accounting standards.
What are the 20-year and 100-year GWP values for methane (CH4)?
Methane (CH4) has a 20-year GWP of 84 and a 100-year GWP of 28, according to the table on the Northmore Gordon glossary page.
What are the 20-year and 100-year GWP values for sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)?
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) has a 20-year GWP of 17,500 and a 100-year GWP of 23,500, making it one of the highest-impact gases listed on the page.
What are the GWP values for hydrofluorocarbon HFC-134a and chlorofluorocarbon CFC-11?
HFC-134a has a 20-year GWP of 3,710 and a 100-year GWP of 1,300. CFC-11 has a 20-year GWP of 6,900 and a 100-year GWP of 4,660, according to the glossary page's table.
What are the GWP values for nitrous oxide (N2O)?
Nitrous oxide (N2O) has a 20-year GWP of 264 and a 100-year GWP of 265, per the table on the Northmore Gordon glossary page.
Why are carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions used as the reference point in GHG accounting?
Carbon dioxide (CO2) has a global warming potential (GWP) of 1 for both the 20-year and 100-year time frames, and for simplicity of accounting, all other greenhouse gases are referenced back to CO2 as the baseline.
What unit is used to express greenhouse gas emissions on a common basis?
Greenhouse gases are quantified using CO₂-e (carbon dioxide equivalent), which expresses different greenhouse gases on a common basis so that gases with different climate impacts, such as methane's higher warming potential compared to carbon dioxide, can be measured comparably.
What framework classifies greenhouse gas emissions into scopes, and what are the scopes?
The GHG Protocol provides the primary international standard for classifying and reporting emissions across scopes: Scope 1 (direct emissions from sources controlled or owned by an organization), Scope 2 (indirect emissions from generation of purchased or acquired electricity, steam, heat, or cooling), and Scope 3 (indirect emissions from sources not controlled or owned by an organization).
