Climate "warming" as mentioned here was indeed mocked— not just Imhoff, but others built igloos near Al Gore's home to suggest that things weren't warming at all! Now, despite the inanity of that stance, clearly saying things were getting warmer wasn't reaching a certain reactionary crowd... so "climate change" was inserted, which was more accurate but less alarming. Climate crisis, as you refer to in your piece, certainly seems to fit the bill. But any word is less dramatic than the pictures and videos of floods, wildfires, the increase in tornadoes, hurricanes, islands sinking and the latest Yellowstone disasters... and if that doesn't wake 'em up, no meme or handle will.