The term "raising consciousness" was thrown out there however long ago. But when it caught on in more recent years as something trendy for New Age Spiritualism... the meaning and the point was instantly lost behind a fog of hippie-dom (not a term, I know, but I feel it expresses the sentiment appropriately).
More recently, though, has been a true rise in consciousness. Meaning a cognizant expansion rather than a 'dancing naked in the moonlight while high on third-eye-opening [substance]' disconnect from reality. Which has led to a modern renaissance of higher thinking (or a finessing of such). And I appreciate that.
There's still a ways to go and a lot of patience in redirecting global traffic into higher and expanded thinking, but it already looks to be showing a better understanding of the term "raising consciousness". While some take it to mean "raising the vibration of the earth and her children" or "raising the pureness within all humanity to the Divine", I like to take the more scientific, broad approach and say, "expanding/increasing awareness of self, others, and the environment and how we all influence each other".