How do PFCs play a role in global climate change?
PFCs are potent greenhouse gases that are very stable in the atmosphere. PFCs are removed very slowly from the atmosphere due to their long atmospheric lifetimes. The estimated atmospheric lifetimes for CF4 and C2F6 are 50,000 and 10,000 years respectively. The “global warming potential” (GWP) of these compounds, a measure that combines expected atmospheric lifetime and infrared absorbing capacity and provides a common unit for comparing the relative impacts of gases on global warming, is amongst the highest. One tonne of CF4 and C2F6 emissions is equivalent to approximately 6,500 and 9,200 tonnes respectively of carbon dioxide emissions, when the warming is considered over a 100-year period.
