Washington, Nov 2 (IANS/RIA Novosti): US President Barack Obama earned another high profile endorsement Thursday, this time from New York City's Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who cited climate change as the primary reason for choosing the incumbent president for a second term.

"The increase in extreme weather we have experienced in New York City and around the world may or may not be the result of it, the risk that it might be - given this week's devastation - should compel all elected leaders to take immediate action," Bloomberg wrote in an opinion article for Bloomberg View.

While Obama has taken steps to reduce carbon consumption, Bloomberg said Republican contender Mitt Romney has backpedalled on the earlier positions to battle climate change he held as governor of the US state of Massachusetts.

Bloomberg also noted Obama's commitment to same-sex marriage and women's access to legal abortion as reasons behind the endorsement.

Bloomberg, an independent, was previously affiliated with both the Democratic and Republican parties. In the 2008 presidential election, Bloomberg stayed neutral and did not endorse either candidate.