A refrigerant with zero ODP may still have a high GWP. Which of the following statements is true?

A refrigerant with zero ODP may still have a high GWP. Which of the following statements is true?

• A. A refrigerant with zero ODP automatically has zero GWP.
• B. Zero ODP implies no environmental impact.
• C. Zero ODP means it depletes ozone but does not trap heat.
• D. Zero ODP means the refrigerant can still have a high GWP.

Answer: (D)

ODP and GWP measure different environmental impacts. A refrigerant can be zero in ozone depletion potential, meaning it does not harm the ozone layer, yet still have a high global warming potential, meaning it can trap a lot of heat in the atmosphere over time. That’s why the statement that zero ODP refrigerants may still have high GWP is true. The other ideas mix up what zero ODP means: it does not automatically imply zero GWP, so it doesn’t guarantee no environmental impact overall. Zero ODP simply means no ozone depletion; it does not imply that the refrigerant won’t affect climate. It also isn’t correct to say zero ODP means the refrigerant depletes ozone or that it traps heat without ozone concerns—zero ODP specifically indicates no ozone depletion.

ODP and GWP measure different environmental impacts. A refrigerant can be zero in ozone depletion potential, meaning it does not harm the ozone layer, yet still have a high global warming potential, meaning it can trap a lot of heat in the atmosphere over time. That’s why the statement that zero ODP refrigerants may still have high GWP is true.

The other ideas mix up what zero ODP means: it does not automatically imply zero GWP, so it doesn’t guarantee no environmental impact overall. Zero ODP simply means no ozone depletion; it does not imply that the refrigerant won’t affect climate. It also isn’t correct to say zero ODP means the refrigerant depletes ozone or that it traps heat without ozone concerns—zero ODP specifically indicates no ozone depletion.