Publications

Publications_Hereon (Photo: J.R. Lippels / Hereon)

Publication Announcement

Following publication has been announced by our Institute of Coastal Systems – Analysis and Modeling. For further information please contact Prof Dr Hans von Storch, co-author of the publication:

Ren, G., & von Storch, H. (2024): On Frequently Used Terms Related to Climate Change. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Climate Science, https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228620.013.957

Summary:

1. Using terms with the same meaning is a precondition of academic exchange and coordinated international actions to cope with the global climate issue.

2. The understanding and usage of some terms in the climate change field are incompatible among researchers, policymakers, and publics.

3. In particular, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change have used significantly different definitions of climate change, which may result in unforeseen problems in coping with the global climate issue.

4. Also, when referring to future changes, the terms climate change projection and climate prediction are frequently used inconsistently.

5. Other terms not always used with the same meaning are global warming, global change, global climate change, abrupt climate change, climate change monitoring, climate change detection, and climate change attribution.

With respect to the term climate change, it is suggested that it be defined in academic circles as a change in any key climate variables or climate extremes on timescales of multidecades or longer periods caused by any drivers (natural or human and external or internal), whereas the term climate variability should be used to refer to variations on all the spectrums of frequency provoked by natural internal drivers or on high-frequency spectrums caused by natural external drivers.

Following the IPCC terminology, it is suggested that climate change projection be defined as estimating possible evolutions of the climate state in the future on scales of decades or longer, based on development scenarios and climate models, with the estimate considered possible, internally consistent, but not necessarily probable.

It is also suggested that the term anthropogenic climate change be used to express large-scale climate change caused by various human activities, especially global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions from human activities and the corresponding changes in other components of the climate system as noted in the IPCC reports and international climate negotiations.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning
   • Target 13.a: Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible
   • Target 13.b: Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing states, including focusing on women, youth, and local and marginalized communities

   The article addresses the issue of understanding and using terms related to climate change, which is directly connected to SDG 13: Climate Action. The article discusses the different definitions and inconsistencies in the usage of terms such as “climate change,” “climate change projection,” “climate prediction,” “global warming,” “global change,” “global climate change,” “abrupt climate change,” “climate change monitoring,” “climate change detection,” and “climate change attribution.” By clarifying and standardizing these terms, it contributes to improving education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation and adaptation (Target 13.3).

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Fuente: blogs.helmholtz.de

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