Markey, citing LeBron James, says warming supports climate bill

Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) said Friday that federal data showing 2010 has been the hottest year on record thus far should spur lawmakers to act on climate change legislation.

“The only person in America not running from the heat this summer is LeBron James,” said Markey, referring to the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball star who left the Ohio team to join the Miami Heat.

Markey chairs the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. “The record-breaking temperature is another warning siren that should serve as a wake-up call to Congress to take action to reduce carbon pollution and add clean energy jobs so we can mitigate the impacts of climate change,” he said.

Markey co-authored a sweeping climate change bill that narrowly passed the House last year. But it stalled in the Senate and sponsors of even a greatly scaled-back version face an uphill battle.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported Thursday that the January-June period was the warmest worldwide on record, based on average land and ocean temperatures.

The NOAA data, which is based on records dating to 1880, also shows that June was the warmest ever.