Statement by Senator Bernie Sanders on the Hottest Year Announcement

BURLINGTON, Vt. – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders issued the following statement after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration released new analyses today confirming that 2015 was Earth's hottest year by the widest margin:

"The debate is over. Sixteen of the last 18 years have been the hottest ever recorded. Climate change is real and is caused by human activity. This planet and its people are in trouble. Unless we get our act together, we will see in years to come more droughts, more floods and more extreme weather disturbances.

"It is absolutely vital that we act boldly to move our energy system away from fossil fuels. That's why I have proposed a comprehensive plan to put people before polluters and reduce carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050 by putting a tax on carbon and making aggressive investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency."

Click here to view Sanders' plan to combat climate change.