What does high global warming potential (GWP) of certain refrigerants imply?

High global warming potential (GWP) indicates that certain refrigerants have a significant ability to trap heat in the atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide. This means that when these refrigerants are released into the environment, they can contribute to climate change more significantly than substances with a lower GWP. The GWP is a measure of how much a compound can contribute to global warming over a specified time frame, typically 100 years.

For example, a refrigerant with a GWP of 1000 is considered to have 1000 times the heat-trapping ability of the same amount of carbon dioxide over that period. Thus, choices indicating that such refrigerants are environmentally friendly or have less impact on climate change do not align with the implications of a high GWP. Similarly, the assertion that they are more efficient is not inherently related to GWP but relates more to their thermodynamic performance characteristics. Therefore, stating that these refrigerants contribute significantly to climate change underscores their environmental impact.