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January 14, 2021

NASA Announces 2020 Tied for Hottest Year on Record

(Washington, DC) – Today, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released their annual assessment of global temperatures and climate conditions. NASA’s analysis found that 2020 tied with 2016 as the hottest year on record, while NOAA’s analysis identified 2020 as the second hottest year by .04 degrees Fahrenheit. This follows the release of new data from Copernicus Climate Change Service, a program of the European Commission, that also said 2020 tied with 2016 for the world's hottest year on record and that the past decade was the warmest ever observed.

Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) made the following statement.

I am not surprised to learn NASA has announced that 2020 has tied for Earth’s hottest year on record. We must move forward now with both increased, steadfast support for research and development and with the implementation of cutting-edge mitigation and adaptation strategies to address the ongoing climate emergency. Combating the climate crisis remains one of my top priorities as Chairwoman of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, and I am looking forward to working with President-Elect Biden and the team of experts he has assembled to meet the climate challenge and work to build a better future for all our citizens.”