hockey stick curve

hockey stick curve (plural hockey stick curves)

1. A curve on a graph depicting a statistical or numerical trend with a long gradual rise followed by a steep increase over the short term.
   • 2022 March 4, Eddie Lloyd, “The PM calls this a natural disaster – it’s not natural, it’s climate change smashing down our doors”, in The Guardian‎:

     This same narrative is parroted by the government. But there is nothing natural about it. This is climate change in action, and pretending we aren’t experiencing a climate catastrophe right now is dangerously irresponsible. Remember, we are only at the beginning of the hockey stick curve. Things are going to get much worse.