[1] Friends of the Earth and similar organisations put forward the concept to define specifically the environmental harm caused by developed countries' past and present policies.
[3] The concept, however, makes no sense without a clear numerical value for the permitted greenhouse footprint, which is not easily defined or estimated.
The greenhouse debt assessment thus forms an ecological footprint analysis, but can be used separately.
Taken conjointly with a 'water debt' analysis and an ecological impact assessment, greenhouse debt analysis is basic to giving individuals, organisations, governments and communities an understanding of the effects they are having on Gaia, life, and global warming.
Any greenhouse debt incurred will contribute to making life harder for future generations of humans and non-human lifeforms.