climate crisis

American  

[klahy-mit krahy-sis] / ˈklaɪ mɪt ˌkraɪ sɪs /

noun

Climatology.

1. a critical situation in which long-term change in the earth’s climate has severe adverse effects on the environment, necessitating immediate and bold countermeasures.

   Brewers are taking notice as the climate crisis decimates Europe’s barley crops.

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Etymology

Origin of climate crisis

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

With the climate crisis, "the world rightly recognised that if you're going to solve the problem, you have to have scientific evidence, an understanding theory of what's going on", he said.

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

On “Plastic Beach,” they tackle the climate crisis and human extinction.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

"Changes to our oceans driven by the climate crisis, threats from disease, and unsustainable fishing practices can all reduce food availability or contribute to these tragic mortalities."

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2026

This effort has become even more urgent as the world confronts the climate crisis and looks for alternatives to fossil fuels.

From Science Daily • Dec. 5, 2025

Like the climate crisis or the crisis of democratic legitimacy, the affordability crisis has become an umbrella term for countless loosely connected phenomena.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 23, 2025