"Global warming," the average increase in global temperature (with the excpetion of this year, which means diddly for several years until a new trend can be established), is happening. Climate change is the effect of global warming. They are buzz words, and therefore bound to be misused, misunderstood. The shift from the words, "global warming" to "climate change" is not so much a backpedalling and flip-flop as it is a now slightly better-informed public (although not by much if you ask me).
I don't know if it's caused by human activity or not, but I am willing to bet that if it IS, it's far too late to do anything about it with Carbon Credits. The only thing I AM sure of is that some of the proposed emergency solutions, if miscalculated, seriously CAN fuck up the Earth for the purposes of our living on it. Some politician running away with a quick fix is what I'm most afraid of.
On the whole though, I'm pretty stoked for the climate debate over the next 50 years. Regardless of it's validity, the hype and the hysteria has created a will and desire to move away from fossil fues, and therefore a GOLDEN oppurtunity for this country.
Cry all you want about the manufacturing and technical base moving overseas, but tarrifs, subsidies, or buying shitty American products aren't going to bring it back. Green industry/manufacturing and energy WILL. We're the only country in the world with the sheer capital weight and innovative culture to pull it off. The technology to "save the Earth" is going to be made in this country, and we are going to make a killing.