Chapter 2: Why We Now Say Climate Change Instead of Global Warming

This week's excerpt from Going Vegan to Save the Planet comes from Chapter 2: Why We Now Say Climate Change Instead of Global Warming

This excerpt from Going Vegan to Save the Planet explains why the term that was used to describe what is happening across the world went from being called global warming to climate change. Was this an issue or marketing, or was there value in the decision?

Is climate change a strong enough name to describe what is happening?

Media and Communication

The media plays a critical role in shaping public understanding of climate issues. This is where most people learn about the changes taking place, as well as how they are affecting communities and habitats around the world. As scientists have moved from "global warming" to "climate change," media outlets have also shifted. Today, global warming is rarely mentioned. This shift has helped to foster a more nuanced public dialogue about the nature of the problem and the solutions needed. Yet, challenges remain in how climate change is communicated.

The complexity of the issue can sometimes lead to confusion or misinformation. For instance, the use of technical jargon or overly simple explanations can either overwhelm or mislead the public. Effective communication about climate change requires balancing scientific accuracy with clarity and accessibility. Then there is the role that social media plays in informing people of how the planet's climate is changing.

Social media plays a significant role in communicating the concept and importance of climate change. It acts as a powerful platform for education, awareness, advocacy and mobilisation. There are several ways it contributes to the climate change conversation. Social media raises awareness. With its global reach, it can explain what climate change is and how it is affecting different populations around the world. Social media platforms can be used to educate the public by sharing research and science in ways that are easy to understand and digest. It also makes activism and the forming of like-minded groups easy. These groups will mobilise. They campaign for governments and companies to make policy changes. They also show us what we can do as individuals to mitigate the threat of climate change.

But with social media comes misinformation and echo chambers. Social media algorithms often create echo chambers. This is a situation where users only see content that aligns with their views. It reinforces their ideas, potentially limiting exposure to diverse perspectives or important information. Misinformation about climate change is a large challenge, particularly on social media platforms. This is due to everyone having the ability to publish their views and opinions to global audiences. It involves the spread of false, misleading, or distorted information, often by those doing the most damage. This can confuse the public and undermine scientific consensus. It also slows the urgent action needed to address climate change. Climate denialism rejects that climate change is real, that it is caused by human activity, or that it poses a serious threat. Conspiracy theories claim that climate change is a "hoax". Others state that it is exaggerated by governments or scientists for profit or control. These theories create distrust in legitimate research and institutions.

There is also the “information” spread by corporations. Tactics like greenwashing mislead the public into believing that 47 practices are eco-friendly. This is most problematic when no meaningful changes have been made. False solutions may promote ineffective or harmful ideas as being beneficial. Exaggerating the benefits of geoengineering or carbon capture is an example. Especially when the root causes of emissions are not addressed at all.

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