In the realm of modern-day alarmism, no term is more popular, or more malleable, than ‘climate change.’ As evidenced by Jacopo Prisco’s recent CNN piece, it seems the phrase can be attached to virtually any phenomenon with even the slightest hint of thermal irregularity. Prisco introduces us to a novel climate change culprit: the ground beneath our cities, which, we’re told, is being deformed by so-called ‘underground climate change.’

As per the findings of a study conducted in Chicago, the heating of the ground under urban areas is being labelled as ‘underground climate change.’ A term as grandiose as it is vague, ‘underground climate change’ describes the ground’s reaction to the heat released by buildings and subterranean transportation systems. This, we’re warned, could have an impact on the functionality of our built infrastructure, causing such potentially ‘significant’ outcomes as distortion, tilting, and cracking of structures.

The casual misappropriation of the term ‘climate change’ in this instance is indeed notable. The phenomenon being studied here is essentially an effect of urban heat, with no real relation to the commonly understood climate change involving greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. As David Archer, professor of geophysical sciences, aptly puts it,

“Calling it climate change seems like a bit of a coattail thing.”

An alarm is also sounded for a ‘silent hazard.’ Rotta Loria points to older buildings, designed with outdated approaches, as key contributors to ‘underground climate change.’ However, this connection seems less about an impending environmental crisis and more about highlighting architectural deficiencies.

In a turn towards optimism, Rotta Loria asserts that modern buildings, with their better insulation and energy efficiency standards, are unlikely to exacerbate this underground heating. The proposed solution? Apply thermal insulation to existing structures and deploy geothermal technologies to harness waste heat. Such propositions seem rather disconnected from the proclaimed issue of ground deformation.

A particularly enlightening comment comes from David Toll, a professor of engineering, who assures that

“for the Chicago Loop, we now know that these thermal movements…are not large enough to be of concern.”

A sobering reminder that despite the sensationalist undertones of the study, its findings indicate little cause for alarm.

This misapplication of the term ‘climate change’ is emblematic of a broader issue. The catch-all usage of the phrase, is diluting its original meaning, sowing unnecessary panic and misdirecting our attention from real problems. If we continue to label every minor environmental inconvenience as ‘climate change,’ we’re merely crying wolf and detracting from the significance of actual global concerns. We ought to be careful in our lexicon; after all, when everything is climate change, nothing is climate change.

HT/KN

https://doi.org/10.1038/s44172-023-00092-1

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