Global Warming Potential

Ozone depleting substances have global warming potentials, which are up to 10,900 times that of carbon dioxide. In fact, CFC-12 is so powerful that just 1.33 lbs released to the atmosphere is equivalent to the GHG emissions from driving for an average U.S. car for an entire year. The US EPA estimates the global stocks of ODS in 2002 to be 20 billion mt CO2e – that is 2.8 times the annual GHG contribution from the United States.

Chart showing relative global warming potential of CFC 11 & 12 compared to CO2.