Have you ever wondered if climate change and global warming mean the same thing? While both words are used interchangeably, they are not the same thing. Think about climate change and global warming as visiting the doctor with persistent fever and body aches. They run some tests and inform you that you have malaria. In this scenario, picture global warming as the symptoms of malaria, which are fever and body aches, while climate change, on the other hand, is the malaria infection itself. Thus, global warming is just one aspect of climate change, similar to fever being one symptom of malaria. Now, let us look more closely at what climate change and global warming mean.
So, what is global warming?
Global warming refers to the increase in global temperatures caused primarily by increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These gases trap heat and cause the globe to warm at an unprecedented rate. Studies have found that human activities are the primary cause of climate change. These activities include burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial activities.
A look at climate change
Climate change, on the other hand, takes into consideration all changes affecting the earth’s planet. It does not only include rising temperatures but also changes in precipitation patterns, including heaving rainfalls and droughts, shifts in wind patterns, melting glaciers, rising sea levels and changes in ocean acidity. Just like global warming, the cause of climate change is mainly attributed to human activities. The combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas releases large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
So, is climate change the same as global warming? Not really. Although each of them has its own distinct definition, they are related to one another. This is because global warming is the primary cause of climate change. Global warming is the initial overheating of the planet, while climate change is the broader consequence that arises as a result of excessive warming of the planet.
Knowing the difference between global warming and climate change can help us comprehend the environmental challenges currently facing our planet. When we clearly understand their relationship, we can create effective solutions that will not only address global warming but also other climatic challenges like droughts, heavy rainfalls, storms and rising sea levels.
