What is the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of nitrous oxide?

The Global Warming Potential (GWP) of a gas is a measure that reflects its ability to trap heat in the atmosphere over a specified time period, relative to carbon dioxide (CO2), which has a GWP of 1. For nitrous oxide (N2O), the GWP is significantly higher than that of CO2, reflecting its potency as a greenhouse gas.

The correct choice indicates that the GWP of nitrous oxide is 265. This means that over a 100-year period, nitrous oxide is 265 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than an equivalent amount of CO2. This high GWP highlights the importance of addressing nitrous oxide emissions in climate change mitigation strategies, as it is primarily emitted from agricultural activities, fossil fuel combustion, and industrial processes.

Understanding the GWP of different greenhouse gases is crucial for developing effective policies and actions to combat climate change, as it allows for better comparisons and assessments of their impacts over time.