Glossary term

global warming potential

An ISO 14067 index used to compare greenhouse gases by radiative forcing relative to carbon dioxide.

1 official sourceSingle-source term

What does global warming potential mean?

Global warming potential is the radiative forcing comparison logic that allows different greenhouse gases to be translated into a common CO2e basis. It is not a greenhouse gas itself and should be documented with the time horizon used.

Source context

This page follows ISO 14067:2018. GWP is a conversion metric for product-footprint calculations, not a standalone proof that a product is low carbon.

Official definitions by source

ISO 14067:2018

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

index, based on radiative properties of GHGs (3.1.2.1), measuring the radiative forcing following a pulse emission of a unit mass of a given GHG in the present-day atmosphere integrated over a chosen time horizon, relative to that of carbon dioxide (CO2)

Reference: 3.1.2.4

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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

Implementation records should capture the GWP value, time horizon, gas identifier, CO2e conversion, source table, assessment report reference, calculation method, and product-footprint result link.

Minespider commentary

Global warming potential is a climate-metric conversion control: the evidence consequence is that CO2e figures can be traced back to gas-specific quantities and the conversion assumptions that made them comparable.

Common confusions

  • Treating GWP as a gas or emission stream rather than a conversion index.
  • Comparing CO2e results without checking the GWP time horizon.
  • Using GWP values without preserving the source table or assessment reference.

Related regulations