Sometimes, a classroom challenge becomes the seed of something bigger. That was the case for Rename Global Warming, a student-led project born during our JS3 Sprint 2 module at the Web Development course of MigraCode Barcelona.
Guided by our instructor Carlos Pérez, we were split into teams (I was lucky enough to end up with Saidumar Akbarov and Ly-Ly Janusz) and encouraged to develop project ideas that addressed real-world problems.
🤔 The Idea Behind the Name
As students, we were learning to write User Stories and define Minimum Viable Products (MVPs). Carlos encouraged us to link our projects to real issues and the world around us.
It was December 2024, and Storm Dana had just hit Valencia, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction. I couldn’t stop thinking about how disconnected the term “global warming” felt from the actual suffering happening just outside our windows.
This is how an idea was born:
“What if we rename global warming to reflect its true, catastrophic nature?”
“Global warming sounds like a gentle temperature rise. What we’re living through feels more like climate collapse, planetary trauma, or ecocide.”
— One of our first brainstorming notes
🛠️ What We Built
We ended up building a one-page website with the following tech stack:
- HTML, CSS, Vanilla JavaScript;
- A custom-built two-layer carousel with smooth animations;
- Firebase – to store and display user-submitted name suggestions;
- Cloudinary – to host images and short clips of climate destruction.
🎓 While Firebase and Cloudinary weren’t part of our official MigraCode curriculum (we hadn’t even started the Databases module yet), we chose them as they were free and user-friendly. Learning to implement them was challenging but incredibly rewarding.
💻 Code Snippet:
JavaScript CopyEdit
// Submit the name to Firestore
if (newName) {
await addDoc(collection(db, “globalWarmingNames”), {
name: newName,
createdAt: serverTimestamp(), // Add server-side timestamp
});
nameDisplay.textContent = newName;
inputField.value = “”; // Clear input field
// Scroll to Section 5 after submitting the name
document.getElementById(“section-5”).scrollIntoView({
behavior: “smooth”,
block: “start”,
});
await loadLatestNameAndCounter();
// Update the counter
updateCounter();
}
});
🧩 Our Project Board
🌍 Screenshot of the Website
👨💻 What We Learned
This side project helped us in two big ways:
- Consolidating our existing knowledge – It gave us a practical playground to apply HTML, CSS, and JS while thinking about real users and UX.
- Pushing beyond the curriculum – We self-taught how to integrate Firebase and Cloudinary, debug API issues, and deploy using Netlify.
The learning curve of the Web Development course was demanding, so we progressed in small, steady steps — and managed to complete the project in about 3.5 months.
Building something meaningful outside of class gave our confidence a real boost — and not just in terms of writing code. It was a challenging journey, at times even overwhelming, but filled with a sparkling energy that comes from teamwork, mutual support, and a shared sense of purpose.
We got to know each other better, raised awareness around a critical issue, and opened the door for community-driven action.
🔧 Tech Stack & Tools Used
🙌 We Need Your Voice
We are collecting powerful, meaningful, or even poetic alternative names for global warming. The goal is to spark reflection — and maybe even influence how people talk about climate change.
🌱 If the words we use shape how we act, maybe it’s time we used stronger words.
📣 What name would you give to something this destructive?
Submit your idea and join the movement at https://renameglobalwarming.netlify.app/ .
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