Why would one unusually cold week in a city not be treated as proof of climate change?

Correct answer: Because one week may represent short-term weather variation

Climate is the long-term pattern of temperature, rainfall and other weather conditions, usually assessed using data over several decades. An unusually cold week can be a short-term weather fluctuation, so it cannot alone prove climate change. Option D is incorrect because climate change can involve long-term changes in temperature, rainfall, wind and other climatic elements. Exam tip: days or weeks indicate weather; averages over decades indicate climate.