Which term describes the normalization of greenhouse gas impacts relative to carbon dioxide?

The term that describes the normalization of greenhouse gas impacts relative to carbon dioxide is Global Warming Potential (GWP). GWP is a metric used to compare the ability of different greenhouse gases to trap heat in the atmosphere over a specific time period, usually 100 years. Carbon dioxide is assigned a GWP of 1, and other gases are assigned values based on their potency in terms of heat-trapping ability. For example, methane has a GWP of 28-36 over 100 years, indicating it is much more effective at doing so than carbon dioxide. This normalization allows for an easier comparison of the contributions of various greenhouse gases to overall climate change.

The other terms, while related to environmental impacts and climate change, do not specifically pertain to the normalization of greenhouse gases. The carbon footprint refers to the total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product. A greenhouse gas inventory is a comprehensive accounting of all greenhouse gases emitted by a particular source, typically used for regulatory purposes. The climate change index is a less established term that may refer to various methods of measuring or reporting the status of climate change but does not specifically denote the comparison of gases' impacts relative to carbon dioxide.