Terminology: climate change versus global warming

Summary

The content explains that “global warming” and “climate change” are related but not identical terms. Scientifically, global warming refers specifically to the ongoing increase in global average surface temperature. Climate change is broader: it includes global warming and also the wider effects on Earth’s climate system, such as changes in precipitation patterns. Historically, the terms became more common in the 1980s and were sometimes used interchangeably in public discussion. The content also notes that climate change can be used more broadly to include long-term climate changes across Earth’s history caused by natural processes, and that “anthropogenic climate change” is sometimes used to emphasize human-caused changes. It further describes how terminology has evolved in public and media contexts: “global warming” became more popular after NASA scientist James Hansen used it in 1988 testimony, and more recent discussions may use terms like “climate crisis,” “climate emergency,” or “global heating” to refer to the same underlying phenomenon.

Key Points

• 1

  Global warming is the increase in global average surface temperature, while climate change includes global warming plus broader impacts on the climate system.

• 2

  In scientific usage, climate change covers both temperature rise and related changes (e.g., precipitation), whereas global warming is temperature-focused.

• 3

  The terms gained wider use in the 1980s; “global warming” became especially popular after James Hansen’s 1988 U.S. Senate testimony.

• 4

  Climate change may be used broadly for long-term natural climate shifts, and “anthropogenic climate change” specifies human-caused changes.

• 5

  Media and political language may use “climate crisis,” “climate emergency,” or “global heating” instead of “global warming.”