Post 37. Are global warming and climate change the same thing?

 

Global warming is a term we have been using for many years. Global warming describes the gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere from a ‘greenhouse effect.’ Thus, the term greenhouse gases (GHGs). The greenhouse effect is due to increased levels of carbon dioxide, methane and other atmospheric pollutants. The level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rose by 40% during the 20th and 21st century and is now over 400ppm (parts per million) [1] 

Since 1884, the five warmest years have been 2006, 2007, 2011, 2014, and 2017 [1]. According to NASA, “since the pre-industrial period, human activities are estimated to have increased Earth’s global average temperature by about 1 degree Celsius, a number that is currently increasing by 0.2 degrees Celsius per decade.” [2] This is where we hear the maximum 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature rise highlighted in Paris and much discussed in COP26 in Glasgow too. 

Climate change is the long-term change in the average weather patterns that have define Earth’s local, regional and global climates [2]. Climate change is what we see and experience. Melting of ice sheets and glaciers, rising sea levels, changing weather patterns, flooding, extremes in weather. 

The IPCC says “Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forcings such as modulations of the solar cycles, volcanic eruptions and persistent anthropogenic [human induced] changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use.” [3] So climate change is complicated and affected by many things one of which is how we humans live our lives. 

Climate change isn’t just about global warming, there are many other factors of influence too. We need a transparent, inclusive and holistic approach to addressing it. 

[1] https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/climate-change/what-is-climate-change 

[2] https://climate.nasa.gov/resources/global-warming-vs-climate-change/ 

[3] https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/glossary/ 

[4] Picture https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/press-office/news/weather-and-climate/2021/climate-change-continues-to-be-evident-across-uk