Global warming refers specifically to the rise in Earth’s average surface temperature caused by increased greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations. These gases (e.g., CO₂, methane) trap heat in the atmosphere, primarily due to human activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial agriculture.  

Climate change encompasses the broader, long-term shifts in global climate patterns driven by warming. It includes rising sea levels, ocean acidification, intensified extreme weather (hurricanes, droughts), ecosystem disruption, and threats to health and biodiversity.