Global warming and climate change vocabulary list: Why these terms matter
People often use these two terms interchangeably. So, what’s the difference? What does each one really mean and why do they matter?
By Kaitlyn Liu
Our world today holds a preeminent crisis that poses a global threat. From issues such as increasing temperatures to rising sea levels, you’ve no doubt encountered the terms “global warming” and “climate change.” While people are generally more familiar with the phrase “global warming,” it is crucial to understand climate change as well, and how it differs from global warming.
Global Warming
Global warming refers to the abnormally rapid rise in Earth’s average temperature as a result of human activity. According to NASA, “The planet’s average surface temperature has risen about 2.12 degrees Fahrenheit (1.18 degrees Celsius) since the late 19th century.” This is primarily due to an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere.
How does it happen?
The Greenhouse Effect is the naturally occurring process with which the Sun warms the Earth’s surface. In a regular cycle, part of the heat from the sun would be radiated back into space. However, when we burn fossil fuels, it emits pollution in the form of carbon dioxide and other gases. These gas molecules gather and trap the heat within the Earth’s atmosphere, subsequently raising global temperatures. Therefore, global warming results from an excess amount of greenhouse gases that increase the planet’s temperatures above a regular level.
Climate Change
Climate change, on the other hand, encompasses a broader range of issues, including global warming, that collectively impact the planet. As stated by Mike Hulme, a professor of human geography at the University of Cambridge, “I think, on one level, climate change is a more accurate description of what is happening to the world’s weather systems and is a more neutral phrase. Climate change alters the weather system in ways that aren’t limited to temperatures.” In other words, global warming is but a part; climate change is the whole.
While it is natural for the Earth’s climate to change over time (through systems such as El Niño and La Niña), climate change refers to the irregular shift in the world’s average weather patterns over an expansive, prolonged period of time. Scientists believe that some major consequences of climate change include:
Rising Sea Levels
Warming temperatures cause expanding ocean waters as well as melting glaciers in the polar regions of the planet. Combined, this contributes to rapidly rising sea levels, which would impact nearly 40% of the world’s population who live in coastal areas.
Climate Extremes
As the Earth’s average temperatures increase, weather extremes, such as hurricanes and droughts, become more frequent and more intense. These disasters threaten not only the lives of people but the stability of the economy as well. Statistics from the World Bank show that extreme natural disasters cause USD 520 billion in damage annually resulting in about 26 million people falling into poverty every year.
The Great Climate Migration
Currently, about 1% of the world is a hot zone—barely habitable areas as a result of deadly temperatures and major food and water shortages. This number is predicted to go up to 19% by 2070. With almost a fifth of the world uninhabitable, millions of displaced individuals will have to seek refuge in countries without enough resources to accept them.
Moving Forward
No matter which term one prefers to use, the importance lies in discussing this topic. If there’s one thing to take away from this article, it is that no matter how you address this issue—whether you call it global warming or climate change—it is imperative to continue raising awareness about the plight of our beloved but rapidly changing planet.