# Simple language works better for climate

> Americans care more about climate change than climate crisis or emergency.
- Title: Simple language works better for climate · The Conversation
- Summary: Americans care more about climate change than climate crisis or emergency. Using familiar terms like climate change and global warming increases concern and…
- Keywords: climate change, global warming, climate crisis, climate emergency, climate justice, u.n. climate summit, cop31, The Conversation
- Source: The Conversation — https://theconversation.com/to-get-americans-to-care-about-climate-change-just-call-it-climate-change-296481
- Author: Gale Sinatra
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: climate change, global warming, climate crisis, climate emergency, climate justice, u.n. climate summit, cop31, science, ideas
## Americans prefer simple terms
A survey of 5,137 Americans shows they are more familiar with and concerned about climate change and global warming than climate crisis or climate emergency.
## Overheated terms backfire
Terms like climate crisis and climate emergency increase familiarity but not urgency or action among Americans.
## Climate justice is least familiar
Climate justice is the least familiar term among all options, likely because it is the least familiar.
## Partisan differences faded
Past partisan differences in how climate change and global warming were perceived have now faded among Republicans, Democrats and independents.
## Experts use jargon they don't understand
Experts often use complex terms like adaptation and mitigation because they are familiar to them but not to the public.
## Climate change vs global warming
Climate change refers to overall climate changes while global warming refers specifically to rising temperatures.
## Recommendation for clarity
Use familiar terms like climate change for overall changes and global warming for rising temperatures to increase public understanding.
## Key takeaway

Using familiar terms like climate change and global warming increases concern and action among Americans.