Why the Distinction Matters

Climate change does not mean every day gets warmer. It means the average shifts, making extreme events more likely. A 1.5-degree increase in global average temperature translates to dramatically more heat waves, intense storms, and droughts.

Climate shapes what weather is possible in a given place. The Sahara's climate makes snow nearly impossible. The Amazon's climate makes prolonged drought rare. When climate shifts, the entire range of possible weather shifts with it. Events once considered once-in-a-century — like extreme heatwaves — are now occurring every few decades.