What is climate change?

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, like precipitation and wind patterns. Since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily the burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.

Climate change has led to an existential threat: global temperatures have risen dramatically in the past 150 years and scientists say they’re on pace to radically alter life on Earth in coming decades.

Learn more about how this impacts you in Ventura County and the Central Coast below.

Radically alter life?

Temperatures on Earth have fluctuated based on natural processes many times in the past, but experts have confirmed this extraordinary run of warming is different.

Global temperatures have already risen about 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit since about 1850, according to NASA. In the past, it took roughly thousands of years for global temperatures to change that much. Such rapid change is already disrupting the delicate balance of life on Earth.

So here is what you need to know about climate change:

Is cold winter weather evidence that climate change is fake?

No. Winter doesn’t just go away because average temperatures are on the rise.

A single cold day, a cold snap, or even a cold winter in a particular area are all examples of weather. It takes years and years of daily weather data to understand the global climate and how it is changing.

Is climate change the same thing as global warming?

Yes and no.

The terms have different meanings, although they’re often used interchangeably.

While the term “global warming” was used frequently in the past, the term “climate change” is used more often today because it includes the cascading consequences of rising temperatures occurring around the world – melting glaciers, rising seas, drought and more. “Global warming” refers more narrowly to the trend of rising temperatures.

What is causing climate change?

The Earth’s climate changes through a variety of natural processes, but federal scientists say the rapid warming experienced recently is primarily caused by human activities that emit heat-trapping greenhouse gases.

That’s why global efforts to fight climate change are so focused on eliminating the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gas), the most notable source of harmful greenhouse gases.

“Ventura County in California has heated up more than any other county in the contiguous US […] experiencing a 4.75F increase in total warming from 1895 to 2021″ (The Guardian, 2022). 

This is about a half a degree warmer than either Los Angeles or Santa Barbara counties, and one degree hotter than the global average of warming that will be catastrophic around the world, according to climate scientists.

We’re already seeing the effects of this warming and climate change:

Wildfires

Higher temperatures, drier conditions, increased fuel availability, and growing warm seasons – all linked to climate change – are increasing wildfire risk in California. In 2017-18, the Thomas Fire, the largest wildfire in California history at the time, burned throughout Ventura County. For many victims, this disaster solidified climate change as a threat to our immediate safety and wellbeing.

Rising Seas

Warming temperatures heat up oceans, causing water to expand, and melt huge amounts of ice. The higher sea levels aren’t just felt at the coast but also far inland along rivers. South Oxnard has a cluster of polluting facilities that when paired with the threat of ocean flooding pose serious impacts.

Drought

A “megadrought” in the West has been supercharged by warmer temperatures and a lack of rain. Much of Ventura County relies on imported water and water supply conditions are growing ‘increasingly dire.’

For decades, disinformation about climate change has been widespread and this misleading information can usually be traced directly to special interests – the fossil fuel industry.

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, “instead of acknowledging the harmful effects of their products and committing to swift and deep reductions in global warming emissions, many of the world’s largest fossil fuel companies have knowingly deceived the public about the climate science and policy – and they continue to do so today.”

This happens at the local level too. In 2021 and 2022, a disinformation campaign funded with millions from the oil industry meant that a commonsense policy updating the oil and gas permitting process was paused and sent to the ballot. And unfortunately, was not upheld by voters.

But there are things you can do to fight against disinformation! Check out this Disinformation Playbook to learn how business interest deceive, misinform, and by influence at the expense of public health and safety.