Final answer:
Potential, in the context of greenhouse gases, refers to the inherent warming capacity of a gas measured by its global warming potential.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term potential, in the context of greenhouse gases, most closely refers to the 'inherent warming capacity of a gas' which is measured as the global warming potential or GWP. GWP is a measure of how much energy the emissions of 1 ton of a gas will absorb over a given period of time, relative to the emissions of 1 ton of carbon dioxide (CO₂). The comparison is made on the basis that CO₂ has a GWP of 1, which allows for an understanding of how different gases contribute to the greenhouse effect and consequently to global warming and climate change.