climate change

Thân thiện

A scientist explains climate change using a chart of rising temperatures.

Definition

Noun: A long-term shift in global or regional climate patterns, often specifically referring to the significant changes observed since the mid-to-late 20th century, attributed largely to human activity.

Usage

The term "climate change" is used as a singular, uncountable noun to describe the complex phenomenon of global environmental change. It is typically used in scientific, political, and general discourse.

Examples

• The scientific evidence for climate change is overwhelming.
• Governments are meeting to discuss policies to mitigate climate change.
• Climate change is affecting weather patterns and sea levels worldwide.

Advanced Usage

• Anthropogenic climate change: This specific phrase is used in scientific contexts to explicitly denote climate change that is human-induced, primarily due to greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Most scientists agree that we are experiencing anthropogenic climate change.
• The term is often part of larger compound phrases in specialized discourse, such as "climate change adaptation," "climate change denial," or "climate change policy."

Variants and Related Words

• Global warming: Often used interchangeably in public discourse, though scientifically, "global warming" (the increase in Earth's average surface temperature) is a major aspect or driver of the broader "climate change."
• Climatic change: A more formal or technical synonym.
• Climate crisis / Climate emergency: Terms increasingly used to convey the urgency and severity of the situation.

Synonyms

• Global warming
• Climatic change
• Environmental change

Related Phrases

• Address climate change: To take action to deal with the problem.
  • We must address climate change before it's too late.
• Combat/fight climate change: To actively work against its causes and effects.
  • New technologies are essential to combat climate change.
• Climate change impacts/effects: The consequences of climate change.
  • The report details the severe climate change impacts on coastal cities.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a change in the world's climate

Từ đồng nghĩa

• global climate change