With an average temperature of 57.3 degrees measured by a Central Park observation center, 2012 has proved to be the warmest year in New York since records began in 1869, breaking the 57.2 degree record held in 1990, 1991 and 1998.
This new data highlights climate change concerns, most recently enflamed during the highly destructive Superstorm Sandy. Days before the presidential election of 2012, Mayor Bloomberg publicly endorsed President Obama, citing his commitment to counteracting climate change. In response the president commented that though he and the mayor do not agree on all topics, they both believe "climate change is a threat to our children's future, and we owe it to them to do something about it."
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