The global warming potential of chemicals is well documented. This is usually documented by referencing how much a chemical will impact global warming as compared to a similar amount of carbon dioxide. Refrigerants typically outrank carbon dioxide by a factor of 100 or even 1000 and stay in the atmosphere longer to our climate’s detriment.
Greenhouse gases are given a global warming potential value, which scientists use to determine how they will impact our atmosphere. Different values are allocated to the gases, mostly refrigerants, to determine their impact on the atmosphere over the space of 20, 100 or 500 years. the gases typically stay in the atmosphere longer than 20 years and many are around for up to a century. Controlling emissions and dangerous gases is essential to offset the considerable harm that will occur to the earth and its inhabitants otherwise.
