Eh, it's not the same thing as pollution. Pollution to me invokes the process where you invent something unnatural and dump it into the environment, such as tetrachloroethylene. Whereas putting CO2 in the atmosphere is a completely normal natural process, and the amount we've added has "only" about doubled the usual concentration. It's categorically different because unlike TCE, which will kill you on the spot if you drink it, the downsides of CO2 are not instantly obvious.
The problem is that the average voter will not understand that distinction. They will be persuaded to vote against environmental protections because of the doubt cast on "climate change". My original point was about the framing of the debate in the public sphere. In an effort to be pedantically correct, we've handed the opposition the upper hand by allowing them to reframe the debate away from the scary word of pollution.
Pollution is not just about the what, but also about how much. One cup of water is good for you, but if you drink 10 liters of water on the spot you might die. and that's not even close to doubling the amount of water in your body.
In perhaps colourful terms - Crap in a river and it's polluted for those downstream. This, for me, captures the essence of the issue - It's not pollution until you are the one downstream.
