Lexicology, the study of words, is very important at the early stages of any movement.  In this movement towards greater climate consciousness, we must take a step back and think about why we use which words and if our usage needs to change.  

Take for instance the popular phrase 'carbon footprint', which is the amount of carbon dioxide that a person or organization is responsible for, either on a primary or secondary effect, from day to day activities.  Oftentimes, the carbon footprint phrase is used to express consumption of both CO2 and other greenhouse gasses.  Carbon footprint and its sister terms - carbon offset, carbon neutral and carbon zero - fail to address the human-made impact on global warming because it is oftentimes unclear if those terms are being applied to carbon dioxide or all greenhouse gasses.

Carbon dioxide is only one, and one of the least potent, of the greenhouse gases, which also include methane, ozone, nitrous oxide and a few dozen others.   Although carbon dioxide is the predominant greenhouse gas (GHG) because of its relatively large quantities in our atmosphere, usage of the GHG moniker would be better for use in gauging our individual footprints.    Therefore, GHG Footprint, GHG Offset, etc.., are terms better equipped to measure and approach the problem of human impacts on global warming.