What does climate change refer to in terms of weather patterns?

Climate change refers to a significant, long-term alteration in the Earth's climate system, particularly regarding temperature, precipitation, and other atmospheric conditions over extended periods. This definition encapsulates the idea that climate change involves extensive changes to weather patterns that can last for decades or longer, rather than short-term or temporary shifts.

Year-to-year variations in temperature and weather are considered normal and not indicative of climate change; they fall more accurately under temporary fluctuations or seasonal changes. Localized weather variations may occur due to specific geographic or meteorological factors but do not reflect the broader, more profound changes associated with climate change. Therefore, the characterization of climate change as a large scale, long term shift in the planet's weather patterns accurately conveys the scale and significance of the phenomenon.