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Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing humanity today. From rising sea levels to more frequent and intense natural disasters, the effects of a changing climate are already being felt around the world. But what is causing these changes, and what can be done to address them?

The scientific community is clear: climate change is being driven by human activity. Specifically, the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the sun, causing the Earth's temperature to rise. This process is known as the greenhouse effect, and it is essential for life on Earth as we know it. Without it, the planet would be too cold for most forms of life to thrive.

However, human activity has significantly increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to an unprecedented level of warming. The past century has seen a dramatic increase in the use of fossil fuels, leading to a rise in global temperatures of around 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit since the Industrial Revolution. This may not seem like much, but it has already had significant consequences.

Sea levels have risen by more than eight inches in the past century, and the rate of rise is accelerating. This poses a significant threat to coastal communities around the world, as rising waters can lead to flooding, erosion, and the destruction of infrastructure. In addition, more frequent and severe natural disasters, such as hurricanes, typhoons, and wildfires, are being linked to climate change. These events can have devastating consequences, including loss of life and property, and can have long-lasting impacts on communities.

The good news is that it is not too late to take action to address climate change. The Paris Agreement, an international treaty signed by almost every country in the world, sets a goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. To achieve this goal, countries must significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

There are many ways to do this, including transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, increasing energy efficiency, and adopting more sustainable practices. Individual actions, such as using public transportation, reducing energy consumption at home, and supporting businesses that are environmentally responsible, can also make a difference.

It will not be easy to address climate change, but it is necessary. The longer we wait, the more severe the consequences will be. It is up to all of us to take action and work towards a more sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.

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Despite the clear evidence of the threat posed by climate change and the agreements made by governments to take action, progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions has been insufficient.

According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), global greenhouse gas emissions have continued to rise in the past decade, reaching a record high in 2020. This is largely due to the continued reliance on fossil fuels for energy production and transportation.

In addition, many governments have been slow to implement policies and regulations that would reduce emissions and encourage the transition to renewable energy. For example, a 2019 report from the International Energy Agency found that only a handful of countries were on track to meet the emissions reduction targets set under the Paris Agreement.

This lack of action has serious consequences. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a group of leading climate scientists, warns that if we do not significantly reduce emissions in the next decade, we will not be able to prevent dangerous levels of warming. This could lead to even more severe and destructive natural disasters, as well as long-term impacts on ecosystems and food production.

It is clear that more needs to be done at the governmental level to address climate change. This includes enacting policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, supporting the transition to renewable energy, and investing in research and development to find new solutions to this global crisis. It is up to governments, corporations and key stakeholders to take the lead and take the necessary actions to protect our planet for future generations.

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The U.S. House of Representatives will vote Friday on a $430 billion bill to fight climate change and lower prescription drug prices, in what Democrats view as a major political win for President Joe Biden ahead of November's midterm elections.

Democrats say the legislation will help reduce the federal deficit, cut domestic greenhouse gas emissions, allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for the elderly and ensure corporations and the wealthy pay the taxes they owe.

Titled the "Inflation Reduction Act," the measure passed the Senate along party lines on Sunday after a marathon, 27-hour session. House approval would send the bill on to the White House for Biden to sign into law. A vote on passage was expected on Friday afternoon.

"House Democrats will pass and send to the president the landmark Inflation Reduction Act," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the chamber's top Democrat, predicted this week in a letter to her party colleagues.

"This bill makes a tremendous difference at the kitchen table of America's families," Pelosi said.

Republicans oppose the legislation, warning that it will kill jobs by raising corporate tax bills, further fuel inflation with government spending and inhibit the development of new drugs.

Business groups have had a mixed reaction to the bill, which offers the prospect of higher tax bills for some companies while at the same time giving protections to the fossil fuel industry.

The bill's main revenue source is a novel 15% corporate minimum tax aimed at stopping large, profitable companies from gaming the Internal Revenue Service code to slash their tax bills to zero.

Investors looking to pour cash into clean energy products can expect at least a decade of federal subsidies through long-term tax credits for wind and solar and new credits for energy storage, biogas and hydrogen. Developers who use U.S.-made equipment or build in poorer areas will find additional support.

But the bill does not leave the U.S. fossil fuels industry out in the cold. Some provisions allow the federal government to authorize new wind and solar energy developments on federal land only when it is also auctioning rights to drill for oil and natural gas.

A $7,500 tax credit to encourage U.S. consumers to buy electric vehicles could not be used for most EV models on the market, according to major automakers, who warn that the legislation will put achieving U.S. EV adoption targets for 2030 in jeopardy.

To be eligible for the credit, vehicles must be assembled in North America, which would make some current EVs ineligible as soon as the bill takes effect.

The bill has been more than 18 months in the making. It represents a final version of Biden's original sweeping Build Back Better plan, which had to be whittled down in the face of opposition from Republicans and key legislators from his own party.

Democrats, who have been weighed down for months by inflation and Biden's anemic job approval numbers, hope the legislation will help them at the polls in November, when voters decide the balance of power in Congress ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

Biden himself plans to travel across the country to tout the bill along with a series of other legislative victories as a win for voters and a defeat for special interests.

Republicans are favored to win a majority in the House in November and could also take control of the Senate.

But in a hopeful sign for Democrats, Biden's public approval has risen this week to its highest level since early June, as a result of recent legislative successes, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll.

The two-day national poll found that 40% of Americans approve of Biden's job performance, a level of support that is historically low for a U.S. president but up from his rock-bottom level of 36% in May.

In addition to the Inflation Reduction Act, Biden has gained momentum from legislative wins aimed at boosting U.S. competitiveness against China and expanding healthcare benefits for millions of veterans exposed to toxic burn pits.

About half of Americans -- some 49% -- support the climate and drug pricing legislation, including 69% of Democrats and 34% of Republicans, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted Aug. 3 and 4. The most popular element of the bill is giving Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices, which 71% of respondents support, including 68% of Republicans.