Since carbon footprint is such a hot topic in the news these days, it's an ideal topic for this particular article. As concerns about global warming and potential climate change have continued to evolve, the term “carbon footprint” has become ingrained in many people's consciousness. While large Fortune 500 companies focus on reducing their carbon footprint, individuals can also contribute in their own small way. But what is a carbon footprint? Basically, the carbon footprint is defined as the total amount of greenhouse gases produced when it comes to supporting human activities (and which are expressed in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) (What is the carbon footprint?). Driving a car, heating your home, even purchasing certain types of food and goods can increase an individual's carbon footprint (what is a carbon footprint?). The problem here is that many people leaving a heavy carbon footprint can have a decidedly negative impact on the environment and potentially on global warming and climate change (what is a carbon footprint?). When most people think about reducing their carbon footprint, the big things that come to mind first, like not driving a car or shivering in the winter without turning up the heat too much. Others believe that purchasing certain types of foods, such as organic, can help reduce your carbon footprint. This, however, is not true: evidence is starting to emerge that organic farming can actually consume more energy and end up leaving a larger carbon footprint than more conventional farming methods (Morrison, 2010). The reason is that industrial, or conventional, agriculture maximizes efficiency, meaning less time and effort is spent growing food (Morrison, 2010). Furt...... middle of paper ......In short, reducing your carbon footprint does not involve grand radical gestures. It can be small, such as setting aside a portion of your lawn for a vegetable garden, or turning off a light when you leave the room. It may involve purchasing energy-efficient appliances and turning off computers. Performing these small tasks can lead to a reduction in your carbon footprint in the long run. REFERENCES Morrison, Willie (2010, February 15). Buy organic? Not so fast. Feed, 5-7.Priesnitz, Wendy (2008, July-August). Tear up your turf. . . and plant a veggie garden. Natural Life, 62-63. Reysa, Gary (2008, February-March). Eight simple projects for immediate energy savings. Mother Earth News, 54-60. What is the carbon footprint? (n.d.). It's time for a change. Retrieved June 4, 2010, from http://timeforchange.org/what-is-a-carbon-footprint-definition.