What is the significance of the "ozone depletion potential" (ODP)?

The significance of the "ozone depletion potential" (ODP) lies in its role in assessing how substances affect the ozone layer. ODP specifically measures the potential of a chemical to deplete the ozone layer in comparison to trichlorofluoromethane, known as CFC-11. A substance with an ODP of 1 is equivalent in its ozone depletion effect to CFC-11, while a substance with an ODP of 0 has no impact on ozone depletion. This measurement helps regulatory bodies and researchers understand the environmental impact of different refrigerants and other chemicals, guiding decisions on their use and regulation to protect the ozone layer.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the purpose of ODP. ODP does not measure the impact on greenhouse gas emissions, nor does it indicate cooling efficiency or energy consumption rates. Instead, it focuses solely on the effect a substance has on the ozone layer relative to a established reference compound.