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High Global Warming Potential Gases
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- Why be concerned about high GWP gases?
- What are the high GWP gases and where are they used?
- What is Minnesota doing about high GWP gases?
- High GWP reporting requirements
Frequently Asked Questions About High Global Warming Potential Gases and Reporting Requirements- What are other organizations doing about high GWP gases?
- More information
“High-global-warming-potential (HGWP) GHGs are classes of chemicals that have a number of commercial and industrial uses...The MCCAG recommends that MPCA undertake a rulemaking process to identify uses and emission sources of HGWP GHGs and to eliminate the use of such gases where that can be done at a reasonable cost.”
- Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group (MCCAG) Final Report, April 2008
Why be concerned about high global warming potential (GWP) gases?
Certain gases trap heat in the atmosphere and, as a result, have the potential to contribute to climate change by raising the temperature in the atmosphere. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is the best-known and most common global-warming gas. It has been assigned a “global warming potential” of 1. Other greenhouse gases are assigned a GWP relative to CO2. The chart below shows the assigned GWP of a few greenhouse gases.
Source: IPCC, Fourth Assessment, Working Group 1
Some gases have the potential to trap a much greater amount of heat in the atmosphere than CO2 does. The high GWP gases can trap up to 23,900 times more heat in the atmosphere than CO2 over a 100-year period.
This means that relatively small amounts of these gases in the atmosphere have large impacts.
What are the high GWP gases and where are they used?
The high GWP gases include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). HFCs and PFCs are used as substitutes for the ozone-depleting chemicals that are now restricted under the Montreal Protocol of 1987. These gases are used in a wide range of manufacturing plants and consumer products such as:
- Automobile air conditioners
- Refrigerators
- Propellants in certain consumer aerosol products, for example: aerosol paint, personal care products, tire inflators, party spray (foam strings), air horns
- Cleaning, for example: manufacturing of electronic components for use in computers and other devices, degreasing, computer keyboard cleaning (dusting) sprays
- Spray foam insulation and other foams
- Fire extinguishing
- Tennis balls
- Electric power transmission
Emissions of these chemicals are a result of human activities. They are released as a result of their direct use or unintentionally as an industrial byproduct.
Source: US EPA (CO2-equivalent basis)
High GWP gases make up a small portion of the total US greenhouse gas emissions. They are, however, very potent and long lived.
Source: IPCC, Fourth Assessment, Working Group 1
These gases are very stable in the atmosphere. They can remain there for many years. Therefore, concentrations and impacts of these gases in the atmosphere will increase as long as emissions continue.
What is Minnesota doing about high GWP gases?
High GWP gases have a long lifetime and have a greater effect on the atmosphere than CO2. The MPCA and other states are beginning to collect more information about them and look into the potential of using of less-harmful substitutes.
In 2007, Governor Tim Pawlenty signed into law the Next Generation Energy Act. The law specifies the development of a comprehensive plan to reduce Minnesota’s emissions of greenhouse gases.
The Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group (MCCAG) prepared a Climate Mitigation Action Plan. It was presented to the governor and legislature in February, 2008. The plan includes suggestions for policies to reduce emissions of high GWP gases.
A high GWP gas reporting law was passed in May 2008 as part of the Energy Omnibus bill (Minn. Stat. § 216H.11). The reporting requirement was partially the result of the work of the MCCAG. The new law is being implemented now.
High GWP Reporting Requirements
As a result of this new law, Minnesota is taking a number of initial steps, including collecting information about certain high GWP gases and their uses.
- Automobile manufacturers will report to the MPCA the amount of refrigerant that leaks from air conditioners used in passenger cars, trucks and SUVs. This applies to new vehicles to be sold on or after January 1, 2009. Reporting forms are available on the Mobile Air Conditioner Web page or by contacting Barbara Jean Conti at 651-296-6300. The MPCA will post the mobile air conditioner leakage rate results on its web site in early 2009.
- Manufacturers of these chemicals will report to the MPCA the amount of high GWP gases that they sell annually in Minnesota. More detailed instructions can be found in the reporting form below. For further information, contact Jim Sullivan at 651-757-2769. The report for sales made in calendar year 2008 is due by October 1, 2009. The report for sales made in calendar year 2009 is due October 1, 2010. Submit completed forms to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
- Purchasers who buy more than 10,000 metric tons (CO2-equivalent) of any one high GWP gas annually will have to report purchases of all high GWP chemicals. The reporting form includes a list of high GWP gases and a worksheet that will calculate the CO2-equivalence for the amount purchased. A list of the gases to be reported, with equivalent weights of CO2 and common trade names, is available below More detailed instructions can be found in the informational letter and reporting form below. For further information, contact Jim Sullivan at 651-757-2769. The report for purchases made in calendar year 2008 is due by October 1, 2009. The report for purchases made in calendar year 2009 is due October 1, 2010. Submit completed forms to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
UPDATE - July 15, 2009:
Change in 2008 high global warming potential gas purchase/manufacturer reporting date to October 1, 2009.
The MPCA will hold a meeting at the Saint Paul Office, Board Room Central, on July 22, 2009, at 1:30 PM to discuss the changes in the law affecting reporting for high GWP gases. The changes to the reporting statute include a new reporting threshold, a new reporting date and the manner in which purchases are identified for use or retail sale in the state of Minnesota. If you purchase more than 10,000 metric tons of CO2-equivalent high-GWP gases, this meeting will be useful information for your company. If you would like to attend the meeting, or have specific questions, please feel free to contact Jim Sullivan at 651-757-2769 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
What are other organizations doing about high GWP gases?
US EPA
At the federal level, EPA has several activities including voluntary process improvement efforts, usage restrictions, and mandatory recycling. For more information, see US EPA High Global Warming Potential Gases 
EPA has also published several reports on emission trends, mitigation and associated costs, which are available at: US EPA Climate Economics - Mitigation of Non-CO2 gases
California
California has several initiatives designed to minimize or eliminate emissions of high GWP gases. Some are in place and others are being developed. They include:
- new reporting for refrigerants
- new automotive air conditioner service and do-it-yourself methods
- new commercial refrigeration specifications
- limiting SF6 from non-electronics manufacturing such as magnesium die-casting, fume vent hood testing, tracer gas
- replacement of high GWP gases in fire suppression
- automobile sales window sticker rating the vehicle’s climate score (includes air conditioner leaking and operation)
More information available at: California Greenhouse Gas Sectors
California has also developed a list of emission control technologies for high GWP gases, which is available at: California Clearinghouse of Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies
New York; Connecticut
These states are also adding a vehicle window sticker label requirement that includes information about air conditioner leakage and operations.
Illinois
Illinois has a Climate Change Advisory Group. The final recommendations from the Group to the governor were to encourage or require reductions in emissions of high GWP gases (N2O, HFCs, PFCs, SF6).
European Union (EU)
The EU passed regulations for fluorinated gases in 2006. A number of those measures became effective in July 2007. The objective of the regulation is to contain, prevent and thereby reduce emissions of the fluorinated greenhouse gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol. The regulation covers containment, recovery, training and certification of personnel, reporting, labeling, control of use and placing on the market.
Canada
Environment Canada’s 2006 National Report on Climate Change identifies emission and removal trends for greenhouse gases. The Greenhouse Gas Verification Center provides assistance for initiatives to quantify and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Where can I find more information about high GWP gases or climate change?
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Climatic Data Center - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- US EPA Climate Change and High GWP gases Web pages:
- MPCA’s climate change Web page
- Reports on Reducing Potential Climate Effects of Emissions of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases:
