In order to add up the impact of the various greenhouse gases, emission figures are converted to so-called CO2 equivalents. This conversion is based on the Global Warming Potential (GWP) – the extent to which a gas contributes to the greenhouse effect. One CO2 equivalent equals the effect of 1 kg of CO2 being emitted. For example, 1 kg of nitrous oxide (N2O) emits 298 CO2 equivalents while 1 kg of methane (CH4) emits 25 CO2 equivalents. The GWP of fluorinated gases is quite variegated and can be very high. For example, 1 kg of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) emits 22.8 thousand CO2 equivalents.
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