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  • Glossary item | Last updated: 04 Apr 2024

Global warming

Bioeconomy

Global warming refers to the increase in global surface temperature relative to a baseline reference period, averaging over a period sufficient to remove interannual variations (e.g., 20 or 30 years).

IPCC, 2022, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Fifth Assessment Report (AR6) 'Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change'.

Source category: International Organisations

Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth's surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to changes in global climate patterns. Global warming can occur from a variety of causes, both natural and human induced. In common usage, “global warming” often refers to the warming that can occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities.

US EPA, 2015, Terminology Services. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://sor.epa.gov/sor_internet/registry/termreg/searchandretrieve/termsandacronyms/search.do, accessed 28 August 2023.

Source category: Agency Documents