Global Warming Quotient
Full Form of GWQ
What is GWQ?
The Global Warming Quotient (GWQ) is a metric used to quantify the relative contribution of a substance, activity, or process to global warming over a specific time horizon, typically 100 years. It is calculated by comparing the radiative forcing of a unit mass of a greenhouse gas (GHG) to that of carbon dioxide (CO₂). In the Indian context, GWQ is increasingly employed by environmental agencies and research institutes to assess the impact of industrial emissions, agricultural practices, and urban waste on the country's climate goals. It aids policymakers in prioritizing mitigation strategies under national action plans like the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). The term is commonly used in scientific reports, government white papers, and academic studies focusing on climate change. For students preparing for competitive exams such as UPSC, GATE (Environmental Engineering), or CSIR-NET, understanding GWQ is essential for questions related to climate metrics and India's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. Regular updates to GWQ values, based on IPCC assessment reports, keep it relevant for ongoing research and policy formulation.
GWQ का फुल फॉर्म
ग्लोबल वार्मिंग कोटिएंट
Example
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change recently published a report highlighting the GWQ of methane from paddy fields in Punjab, urging farmers to adopt alternate wetting and drying techniques.