Glossary term

global temperature change potential

A regulatory term referring to index measuring the change in global mean surface temperature at a chosen point in time in response to a GHG (3.1.2.1) e.

1 official sourcessingle_source

What does global temperature change potential mean?

Global temperature change potential is an index for comparing the temperature response of a greenhouse-gas emission pulse to the response from carbon dioxide.

Official definitions by source

ISO 14067:2018

ISO 14067:2018 - Greenhouse gases — Carbon footprint of products

index measuring the change in global mean surface temperature at a chosen point in time in response to a GHG (3.1.2.1) emission pulse, relative to the change in temperature attributed to carbon dioxide (CO2)

Reference: 3.1.2.3

View official source

Regulatory context

This term originates in ISO 14067:2018 and/or ISO 14044 LCA methodology. It is used in EU product regulation — particularly under the EU Battery Regulation (PEF method for carbon footprint) and ESPR (environmental footprint) — because both regulations require lifecycle-based quantification of environmental impacts. Practitioners applying these regulations should be familiar with these LCA/PEF concepts to correctly scope, conduct, and verify product-level environmental assessments.

Practical application

This term matters when a study uses temperature-change framing rather than only radiative-forcing or CO2e-style comparison logic.

Minespider commentary

For Minespider, global temperature change potential is a climate-metric interpretation term.

Common confusions

Assuming the everyday meaning of global temperature change potential is enough without checking the official source definition.
Using global temperature change potential as a loose generic label rather than the narrower meaning used in the source text.
Assuming global temperature change potential can be interpreted without understanding methodology, scope, or lifecycle context.