Because carbon footprints are such hot topics in the news these days, it is an ideal topic for this particular article. As concerns about global warming and potential climate change continue to evolve, the term "carbon footprint" has become ingrained in many people's consciousness. Although major Fortune 500 companies are focused on reducing their own carbon footprint, individuals can also do their part in their own way. But what is a carbon footprint? Basically, the carbon footprint is defined as the total amount of greenhouse gases produced when supporting human activities (and which are expressed in equivalent tonnes of carbon dioxide) (What is 'a carbon footprint?). Driving a car, heating your home, or 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 with a large carbon footprint can have a definite 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 come to mind first – like not driving a car or shivering during the winter without overheating. Others believe that purchasing certain types of foods, such as organic foods, can help reduce carbon footprint. This is not true, however: evidence is beginning to emerge that organic farming may actually use more energy and end up leaving a larger carbon footprint than more conventional farming methods (Morrison, 2010). The reason is that industrial agriculture, or conventional agriculture, maximizes efficiency, which means less time and effort spent on growing food (Morrison, 2010). Furt...... middle of paper ......In short, reducing your carbon footprint does not require big gestures. This could be small, like setting aside part of your lawn for a vegetable garden or turning off a light when leaving the room. This may involve purchasing energy-efficient appliances and turning off computers. Carrying out these small activities can lead to a reduction in carbon footprint in the long term. REFERENCES Morrison, Willie (February 15, 2010). Buy organic? Not so fast. Feedstuffs, 5-7. Priesnitz, Wendy (2008, July-August). Tear up your lawn. . . and plant a vegetable garden. Natural Life, 62-63. Reysa, Gary (2008, February-March). Eight easy projects for instant energy savings. Mother Earth News, 54-60.What is a carbon footprint? (nd). It's time for a change. Retrieved June 4, 2010 from http://timeforchange.org/what-is-a-carbon-footprint-definition.