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climate crisis

climate crisis

5 3.5
Big, fast changes in the climate that cause serious harm to nature and people
  • noun
  • /ˈklaɪmət ˈkraɪsɪs/
translation icon : crisis climática
  • The climate crisis is affecting millions of people around the world with extreme weather events.
  • solve the climate crisis
  • global climate crisis
  • magnitude of the climate crisis

I think that this impending climate crisis is real and happening.

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Examples

  • Today, the world focuses its attention on the truth about the climate crisis.

    Blog text (11)
  • Our energy future cannot be built on the same sources that helped cause the current climate crisis.

    Blog text (32)
  • Every day we wake up and things like the climate crisis are a daily reality.

  • So just imagine what our climate crisis would be if we just saved that energy.

  • But the climate crisis is also a huge opportunity.

  • What will the cost of the climate crisis be?

    Blog text (13)
  • We cannot solve the climate crisis alone, and the rest of the world cannot solve it without us.

    Academic text (2007)
  • I think that this impending climate crisis is real and happening.

  • We are honored and humbled to join efforts to solve the climate crisis.

    Blog text (3)
  • Could linking today's extreme weather with the urgency of the climate crisis lead the public to support policies that reduce emissions?

    Blog text (34)

Synonyms

climate change
vsclimate crisis
  • Specialized
274 2.8

A long change in the Earth's usual weather and temperature

is sudden and causes serious widespread environmental and social problems
global climate change
vsclimate crisis
  • Specialized
9 3.3

Long-term change in Earth's usual weather and temperature mainly caused by people

is sudden and causes serious widespread environmental and social problems

How Serious

catastrophe
176 7.0
climate crisis
5 3.5
climate change
  • Specialized
274 2.8

Surface Forms

climate crisis singular

Morphology

climate + crisis

The phrase 'climate crisis' is directly interpretable as a crisis related to the climate by combining 'climate' (long-term weather patterns) with 'crisis' (a moment of danger or serious difficulty). The composition follows straightforward noun+noun semantics and is cross-linguistically obvious, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

The phrase climate crisis uses climate (the long-term weather) and crisis (a sudden emergency) to paint a picture of the Earth's weather changing fast and becoming dangerous. That's why it means 'a serious and urgent problem' that needs quick action.