Meaning & use
climate change
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
The long-term alteration of temperature and weather patterns on Earth, especially the current warming caused mainly by human activities.
Grammar: Used without 'a' or a plural; say 'climate change is happening', not 'a climate change'.
Patterns
- climate change causes something
- tackle climate change
- the effects of climate change
Scientists say climate change is making heatwaves more frequent.
The government promised to take action on climate change.
Many coastal cities are at risk from climate change.
nouncountable
A specific instance or period of significant change in the climate of a region or the planet.
Grammar: Can be used with 'a' when referring to a particular historical or regional shift.
Patterns
- a climate change occurred
- a climate change in something
Geologists study a climate change that happened millions of years ago.
The region experienced a dramatic climate change after the volcano erupted.
Common combinations
- climate change denial
- Climate change denial is still common in some political circles.
- climate change adaptation
- Climate change adaptation includes building sea walls.
- climate change mitigation
- Planting trees is one form of climate change mitigation.
- global climate change
- Global climate change affects every country.
- human-induced climate change
- Human-induced climate change is the main driver of recent warming.
Synonyms and how they differ
- global warming
- Focuses specifically on rising temperatures, while 'climate change' also includes shifts in rainfall, storms, and other patterns.
- climate crisis
- Emphasizes the urgent, dangerous nature of the problem; 'climate change' is more neutral and scientific.
Word family
Commonly confused: climate change or weather?
climate change vs weather
Weather is the day-to-day state of the atmosphere; climate change refers to long-term shifts over decades or centuries.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'climate change' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Climate change' is uncountable and refers to the global phenomenon; it is not used for daily temperature or as a verb. Option 1 uses it for today's weather, option 2 incorrectly makes it countable, and option 3 uses it as a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “climate change”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.