Why we need to talk about “global weirding”
Discussing climate change in terms of “global warming” can spark confusion. Is there a better way to describe strange weather patterns?
It can feel like an endless cycle: whenever a bout of uncharacteristic weather strikes – particularly unseasonable cold snaps – climate change sceptics argue this is evidence that global warming is not happening.
The link between global warming and climate change is frequently misunderstood. Recent strange weather events – for example, a mini heatwave in the UK followed by snow in April – have only exacerbated this misconception.
But if “global warming” is a source of confusion, could a new term – “global weirding” – better describe the increasingly erratic weather we are experiencing?