Last month was the hottest June on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. March, April, and May 2010 also were the warmest on record. In fact, according to government data, June was also the 304th consecutive month with a global temperature above the 20th century average. Scientists, researchers and leaders in government and industry use NOAA’s monthly reports to help track trends and other changes in the world's climate.

On the Senate floor one day in June, Senator Bernie Sanders warned colleagues that some who denied the existence of global warming were ignoring solid scientific evidence.   “We have heard the same tired stories from big oil and big polluters again and again. They tell us reducing carbon pollution will kill jobs and wreck our economy. Time and time again, we have heard these same arguments, and we know they are not true.  Since we passed the Clean Air Act in 1970, we have dramatically reduced emissions of dozens of pollutants, we have improved air quality, and we have improved public health. The EPA estimates that this year, the Clean Air Act prevented an estimated 20,000 deaths, more than 23,000 cases of chronic bronchitis and asthma, and 59,000 hospitalizations,” added Sanders, chairman of the Senate green jobs subcommittee.

“Yet during this same period, despite the current recession that has set us back, with the Clean Air Act, we have been able to grow our economy. Our gross domestic product has more than tripled, and average household income grew more than 45 percent,” he added.

 “We know we can protect the public health, save our environment, and grow our economy.

 “For those who say Congress should make a decision about how to address carbon, they are absolutely right. But instead of debating efforts to protect big polluters, we should be using this time to debate how to position our country to lead in the global clean energy economy.

 “I have no doubt that the American people have the ingenuity and the competitive spirit to solve our energy challenges. What they need is some leadership from us in Washington. Now is the time to get America running on clean energy.”

To watch the floor speech on climate change, click here.