11 Climate Change Terms Everyone Living On This Earth Should Know

Feel free to make flash cards, because knowledge leads to action!

1. Let’s start with the most basic of basics. What does “climate change” actually mean?

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“Climate change” refers to shifts in average weather conditions over an extended period of time (like several decades or longer). These shifts encompass temperature increases and decreases, changes in precipitation and severe weather events (think hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires), and more.

2. Can you use the term “global warming” interchangeably with “climate change”?

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No. They're not the same thing. Global warming, the increase of the Earth's average temperature, is just one element of climate change — because climate involves more than just the temp! Global warming (and, by extension, climate change) is caused by rising levels of greenhouse gases.

3. OK. What’s a greenhouse gas, then?

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A greenhouse gas is naturally or industrially produced gas that is capable of absorbing infrared radiation in the atmosphere. With the greenhouse effect, heat that is supposed to be escaping the Earth's surface is trapped and reradiated back toward the Earth's surface. The main greenhouse gas you should know about is carbon dioxide. CO2 is a colorless, nonflammable gas that is both naturally occurring and produced by human industrialization. Because CO2 is the principal gas affecting the Earth's radiative balance, the global warming potential of all other greenhouse gases is measured against it.

4. Let's talk a little more about CO2. What does it mean when someone refers to “preindustrial levels of CO2”?

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That person is quite literally talking about the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere prior to the start of the industrial revolution. For some context, scientists estimate that those levels back in the day were 280 parts per million (ppm), and now we’re at about 400 ppm, with an increase of approximately 2 ppm each year. Many scientists also agree that carbon dioxide levels should be at 350 ppm to be considered safe. So...eek?

5. Here’s where we should talk about fossil fuels.

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Fossil fuels are natural resources, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, that are burned to produce energy and, in that process, also emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Our modern world has quite a high demand for energy, so we're burning a lot of fossil fuels, which equals more CO2 — which, as we already discussed, equals higher temperatures for our lovely planet.

6. What about that nasty, thick black smoke you see coming out of trucks and buildings?

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That's called “black carbon,” and it is BAD. Black carbon (aka soot) is emitted from engines, coal-fired power plants, and other sources that burn fossil fuels — and not only is it contributing to global warming and melting in the Arctic, but inhalation of black carbon is also tied to an array of health problems, like respiratory and cardiovascular disease, cancer, and even birth defects. BIG yuck.

7. Know what else is nasty? Ocean acidification.

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Ocean acidification, or decreasing levels of pH in the ocean, is a really unfortunate side effect of too much CO2 in the atmosphere. Around 30 percent of human-made CO2 is absorbed by the oceans. In making the water more acidic, it disturbs the well-being and natural processes of ocean life such as shellfish. If emissions continue at the high levels they are at now, ocean acidification levels are projected to grow 144% by the year 2100. Not a great future for our beautiful oceans!

8. So all of this climate change stuff is...not great. What is being done to help mitigate it?

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“Mitigation” is actually the term used to encompass the actions being taken to slow down and reduce climate change. So that means lowering emissions of greenhouse gases and figuring out better ways for them to be absorbed and removed from the atmosphere.

9. Turning to renewable energy sources is one way to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

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Renewable energy is a type of energy that does not produce greenhouse gases and can be replenished naturally and quickly, such as solar, wind, waves, and geothermal heat. These energy sources are very powerful and FAR better for the health of our planet than fossil fuels.

10. Bolstering sinks (no, not the things you wash your hands in) is another way.

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Carbon sinks are natural parts of the Earth (e.g., trees and plants, the ocean, and soil) that absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Unfortunately, we are not so great at protecting these beautiful parts of our planet, so we need to do better through efforts such as reforestation to keep climate change at bay.

11. OK. You’re totally wondering at this point what YOU, a single human being, can do today to help fight climate change. It’s all about your carbon footprint.

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Your carbon footprint includes greenhouse gas emissions that you personally generate by driving to work or blasting the heat in your home, as well as emissions that you generate more indirectly. Think about it this way: If you leave the lights on all the time, the power plant generating your electricity has to produce more. If you take plastic garbage bags from the store, the factory producing those bags has to produce more. So if you, say, start biking to work instead of driving, are more mindful of blasting the heat and leaving your lights on, and bring a reusable bag to the grocery store, you will be making BIG progress toward reducing your carbon footprint.

So what are you waiting for??? Let’s save this Earth!

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