Glossary

Several greenhouse gases contribute to climate change, to varying degrees. The most important greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). But chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other coolants amplify the greenhouse effect. In order to gauge and compare the climate effects of individual greenhouse gases, the Global Warming Potential (GWP) standard and CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) are used. CO₂ equivalent (also referred to as CO_2e, carbon dioxide equivalent, or CO_2eq) is used to compare the emissions of various greenhouse gases on the basis of their GWP. To do so, the amounts of other gases are converted into the equivalent amount of CO₂.