In recent usage, especially in the context of environmental policy, the term "climate change" often refers only to changes in modern climate, including the rise in average surface temperature known as global warming.
在最近的用法中，尤其是在一些环境政策中，“环境变化”这一术语通常仅指现代气候的变化，包括平均地表温度的升高，也就是熟知的全球变暖。