climate change

[klahy-mit cheynj]

noun

1. a long-term change in the earth's climate, especially a change due to an increase in the average atmospheric temperature.

   Melting glaciers imply that life in the Arctic is affected by climate change.

Word History and Origins

Origin of climate change¹

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Steyer founded a hedge fund whose investments included massive fossil fuel projects, but after he learned of the environmental consequences of these financial decisions, he divested and has worked to fight climate change.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Because a hotter atmosphere holds more water that evaporates from a rapidly warming Mediterranean Sea, climate change increases the risk and intensity of flooding from extreme rainfall in the region.

Read more on Barron's

The Hall of Extinction and Hope analogizes manmade climate change and habitat destruction to a slow-moving asteroid that has already obliterated species such as the passenger pigeon, dodo and great auk.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Li highlighted a number of ways Beijing is making good on multilateralism, including remaining a participant in efforts to combat climate change.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

TORONTO—As an executive and central banker, Mark Carney was a leading voice urging the business world to fight against climate change.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

When To Use

What is climate change?

Climate change refers to a sweeping change in global climate conditions, including weather phenomena, temperature, and sea levels. It’s caused by an influx of greenhouse gases, mostly from fossil fuel emissions around the world. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere and change weather patterns, warming many areas of the globe and causing erratic season and weather events.How is term pronounced?[ klahy-mit cheynj ]