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"Rapid climate change" is what I would say is the most specific term, because climates change naturally over time, but usually do so slowly enough that there is
by seabass-labrax 3y ago
"Rapid climate change" is what I would say is the most specific term, because climates change naturally over time, but usually do so slowly enough that there is no risk to individuals. The kind of climate change due to human interactions is so rapid that individuals are at risk, for instance those who live in low-lying coastal areas. Species evolve when there is slow climate change, but rapid changes make whole clades of species extinct before they have enough generations to evolve.
- abdullahkhalids 3y agoWell, the term used for 'climate change due to human interactions' is anthropogenic climate change. Which plays exactly into George Carlin said. Why use 'anthropogenic climate change' which a regular person won't know the meaning of instead of 'human-caused climate change' or something.
- Supermancho 3y agoThe only change that's of global concern is the spiking energy accumulation. It's global warming, as most people would understand it from reading the link. Climate change is soft language to lump in secondary effects, to make it acceptable for deniers and special interests.
- abdullahkhalids 3y agoI don't agree. The effects of humans dumping CO2 and other gases in the atmosphere is not just the increase in the average temperature. It is increased variability in temperatures. It is extreme droughts and extreme floods (which occurred in Pakistan last year). It is extreme tropical storms. It is historical levels of forest fires (such as what we saw in Canada this year). Etc etc. All of these things are cause for concern. Climate change is a much more accurate term than global warming, even if climate deniers use it to their ends. The opposite effect also occurs. People in Canada will joke, "oh global warming is great, maybe it will warm up here a bit." But talk about forest fires and it is much harder for them to disregard the concerns.
- Supermancho 3y ago> It is increased variability in temperatures. Again, this is splitting hairs by pointing to secondary effects and saying "it's more than one thing" when the root cause is singular.
- TheSpiceIsLife 3y agoShort on time or I'd say more. Worth a read: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punctuated_equilibrium https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punctuated_equilibrium