Newspaper articles and opinion pieces

Columns and feature articles written for the Sunday Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus in Vermont (and since 2016 the Green Energy Times, which may be edited versions of Herald articles).

For each year, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and now 2022 and 2023 there is an compilation of my "Planet" newspaper columns on the right.

Environmental Journalism Revisited outlines the history, philosophy and vision of the Sunday Environment page; and gives an overview of the published content during the first four years.

This letter from the 1927 flood in Vermont was published in the Herald in memory of the Irene flood.

Since 2016, edited versions of my newspaper articles and recently many new articles have been published in the Green Energy Times (see annual collections to right)

Filter By Topic: Climate Change; Community solutions; Earth system; Forests; Local Food; Policy; Renewable energy; Scientific integrity; Seasonal climate; Waste management; Water

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2024-06-03Time to Join Mother Nature: Green Energy Times
2024-04-15Review of Global Climate Management: Green Energy Times
2024-02-14Our climate system is moving out of our control: Green Energy Times
2023-12-14Global Climate Issues: Green Energy Times
2023-10-15Mother Nature’s Takeover of Our Climate System: Green Energy Times
2023-08-23Climate Extremes and Surprises: Green Energy Times
2023-08-12You Can’t Fool Mother Nature: Rutland Herald
2023-04-17Winter Climate Extremes in the United States: Green Energy Times
2023-03-04Confront the Fossil Empire: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2022-12-12New Climate Extremes: Green Energy Times
2022-12-12Plug-in Hybrids are an important transition: Green Energy Times
2022-12-12Review of COP27: Green Energy Times
2022-10-15Truth that sets you Free: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2022-10-01Mother Nature reads your mind - The new Climate System: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2022-08-15Accelerating Climate Change and the Living Earth (GET): Green Energy Times
2022-08-06Truth against webs of Lies: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2022-07-10The Vision of the indigenous Jesus (Yeshua) Sermon, July 10, 2022: Rutland UMC Sermon
2022-07-02Climate Disasters and Religious Absurdities: Rutland Herald-Times Argus
2022-05-21Lost in the webs of Lies (Global climate challenges and the truth): Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2022-04-12Climate Breakdown is Accelerating Rapidly: Green Energy Times
2022-04-09The horrors of climate change and war: Rutland Herald-Times Argus
2022-02-24Climate Change and Local Action: Green Energy times
2022-02-19Climate Change and Local Action: Rutland Herald-Times Argus
2021-12-24Freedom from the webs of lies.: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2021-12-15Limited progress at COP 26: Green Energy Times
2021-11-06“Code red for humanity”: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2021-10-15Code Red for Humanity and the Climate Crisis: Green Energy Times
2021-08-07Spreading the Truth: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2021-07-10Trust, Truth and Climate change: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2021-06-07Climate Crisis and the Fossil Empire: Green Energy Times
2021-05-29Choosing Truth or Lies: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2021-04-17Climate Crisis and Fossil Empire: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2021-04-02The Ways of the Earth: Green Energy Times
2021-02-27Truth and the Earth: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2021-01-20We Are At a Climate Crossroads of Opportunity: Green Energy Times
2021-01-09The Future has Arrived: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2020-11-21Joy and darkness: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2020-11-17Floating with the Ice across the Arctic: Green Energy Times
2020-11-16The Task Before Us: Green Energy Times
2020-10-03The Truth Matters: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2020-08-01Our Present Task: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2020-06-13Capitalism, Courage and Justice: Rutland Herald & Barre/Montpelier Times-Argus
2020-04-25The Global Economy Crumbles: Rutland Herald & Barre/Montpelier Times-Argus
2020-04-02Resolve to save the Earth: Green Energy Times
2020-03-07Phase-out fossil-fuel financing: Rutland Herald &Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2020-01-18Resolve to save the Earth: Rutland Herald & Barre/Montpelier Times-Argus
2020-01-15Time to Re-imagine Capitalism: Green Energy Times
2019-11-30Time to re-imagine capitalism: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2019-11-27The Global Rebellion is underway: Green Energy Times
2019-10-12The Global Rebellion starts: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2019-09-24Floods, Ice, Fires and Drought: Green Energy Times
2019-09-07Floods, ice, fires and drought: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2019-07-20The Climate Catastrophe is coming: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2019-07-15Rebellion to save the Earth (V2): Green Energy Times
2019-06-01Rebellion to save the Earth: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2019-05-15Saving our children: Green Energy Times
2019-04-13Saving our children: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2019-03-15The clash between oil and the future: Green Energy Times
2019-02-23The clash between oil and the future: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2019-01-15Looking back; looking ahead: Green Energy Times
2019-01-05Time to Face the Future: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2018-12-01The Climate Endgame is Coming: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2018-10-28Time for real change: Green Energy Times: P24
2018-10-27Faith, hope and the creation: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times Argus
2018-09-08Climate Change is on a roll: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2018-08-21What kind of America do we want? (GET): Green Energy Times
2018-06-02Our responsibility to the Earth: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2018-04-07Lessons from winter: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2018-02-10Intelligence and Resilience: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2017-12-23The weather listens to no man: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2017-11-04Robbing Our Children's Future: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2017-10-07Surviving Maria in Puerto Rico: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2017-09-16From Inside the Eye of the Storm (Hurricane Irma): Rutland Herald
2017-09-16Biblical floods and storms: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Time-Argus
2017-07-29Be Grateful For Global Society: Rutland Herald
2017-04-22Getting there more efficiently: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2017-04-21Tacking transport this spring: Green Energy Times
2017-02-18Gulf between Science and Politics: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2016-10-21Libertarian Ideology Alleges that Climate Change Is a Hoax: Green Energy Times
2016-09-25Science versus libertarian billionaires - Getting right with the planet: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times Argus
2016-08-18Please tell me the weather next month!: Green Energy Times
2016-06-22End of the Field of Dreams: Rutland Herald
2016-06-19Earth ignores politics: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2016-06-18Transforming Energy Use in New England: Green Energy Times
2016-05-08Embrace Change this Spring: Rutland Herald
2016-04-15Welcome This Early Spring: Green Energy Times
2016-03-06Transforming transport in Vermont: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2016-02-15Climate Reflections on 2015: Green Energy Times
2016-01-20Energy credits are a diversion: Rutland Herald
2016-01-10Reflections on a hot year: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2015-12-15The Challenge of Stabilizing CO2: Green Energy Times
2015-11-22Warming world challenges ideology: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2015-10-04Warm Fall Brings Hope: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2015-08-29Science and Spirit: Rutland Herald editorial, adapted from Time-Argus, Aug. 27
2015-08-27Pointing to Hope: Editorial by Steven Pappas, The Times Argus
2015-08-16Caring for our common home: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2015-06-21Reality and fantasy diverge: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2015-05-03Late spring after extreme winter: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2015-03-15Working with the Earth: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2015-01-25The transformation ahead: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2014-11-30US-China pact is a step forward: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2014-10-05Marching toward our climate future: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2014-08-17A radical alternative to a carbon tax: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2014-06-29Costs of severe storms require a fossil carbon tax: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2014-06-05Vermont among States warming the most: Seth Borenstein (Associated Press and Rutland Herald)
2014-05-11Celebrate Mother Earth today: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2014-03-23Gov’t secrecy impedes understanding of climate change: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2014-01-26The courage to challenge the status quo: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2013-12-15Climate Change is a moral issue: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2013-10-27Collaboration can solve our Environmental Challenges: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2013-07-21Extreme weather, climate change and the future of our planet: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2013-06-02Spring resilience and fossil carbon taxes: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2013-04-14Climate change brings many surprises: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2013-02-24Accelerating climate change brings more extreme weather: Rutland Herald
2013-01-20Reflections on our environment, five years later: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2013-01-06The price we pay for ignoring climate change: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2012-11-25Water plays key role in weather and our lives: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2012-11-11Extreme weather and climate change: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2012-10-07The leaders we have been waiting for: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2012-08-19Finding our way to a sustainable future: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2012-07-22Down to earth: Vt. scientist gauges climate from his garden - Kevin O'Connor: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2012-07-08Vermonters debate wind energy: Public input is part of the process: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2012-07-01A lost generation: No progress on reducing climate change: Rutland Herald/Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2012-06-30What’s In Store For Vermont - Washington Electric Coop Annual Meeting 2012: WEC Coop Currents - June 2012 Newsletter
2012-05-20Climate change requires us to become an energy-efficient society: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2012-04-08A glimpse into the future of our Vermont climate: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2012-02-26Vermont winters are changing rapidly: Rutland Herald/Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2012-01-15A year of weather disasters and climate inaction: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2011-12-04A miraculous protocol saved the ozone layer: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2011-10-23Understanding and dealing with a changing world: Rutland Herald
2011-07-31Our children’s future is a changing natural world: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2011-06-19Floods and more floods get our attention: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2011-05-08Real power lies in resilience, not risk: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2011-04-03Let’s be honest about our global interdependence: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2011-02-13Winter reflections on more signs of climate change: Rutland Herald
2011-01-02New Year’s reflections on our responsibility for the Earth: Rutland Herald
2010-11-21What to do with all this rain!: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2010-11-07Climate change affects fall and winter transitions in Vermont: Rutland Herald
2010-10-10Today is a day of climate action around the world: Rutland Herald
2010-07-18Human actions have local and global impacts: Rutland Herald
2010-07-04Lilacs grow green earlier ... and winter shrinks: Rutland Herald
2010-06-06Oil disasters and the transition to sustainability: Rutland Herald
2010-02-11Real science, real world: Rutland Herald
2010-01-31Earth science and society: Rutland Herald
2009-12-06The Copenhagen Challenge: Rutland Herald
2009-10-25Climate limits are closing in: Rutland Herald
2009-09-13The Transition into Fall: Rutland Herald
2009-08-02The choices we face: Rutland Herald
2009-06-21Protecting our forests: Rutland Herald
2009-04-05Envisioning a sustainable energy future: Rutland Herald
2009-03-01Snow’s Global Impact: Rutland Herald
2009-01-18Winter reflections, one year on: Rutland Herald
2008-10-05Care for our forests: Rutland Herald
2008-07-06Water can’t be separated from life: Rutland Herald
2008-05-11The Spring Transition: Rutland Herald
2008-04-13Spring green marks the return of life: Rutland Herald
2008-03-23A challenge we all face: Rutland Herald
2008-03-02The integrity of science: Rutland Herald
2008-02-10A look back, a look ahead: Rutland Herald
2008-01-20Welcome to the planet: Rutland Herald
2007-06-24Growing Pains: How global warming helps and hurts Vt. agriculture: Rutland Herald
2007-04-01Earth in the Balance.: Sojourners
2007-03-11Report is a landmark for humanity: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2007-03-08Why Climate Change Report matters: Burlington Free Press
2007-02-04The real science of climate change: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus

Yearly Collections of my newspaper articles

These collections of articles blend science and opinion with a systems perspective as they go through the seasons, dealing with weather, climate, energy and policy issues. They encourage the reader to explore alternative and hopeful paths for themselves, their families and society. I have written them so that a scientist will perceive them as accurate (although simplified); while the public can relate their tangible experience of the weather to the much broader issues of climate and climate change. As political attacks on climate science have increased in recent years, I have expanded my social and political commentary, since earth scientists share responsibility for the future of the Earth!

Here is a citable reference list for the Climate, Energy and Community, 'Planet' series with DOIs till 2017; continuing through 2023. My Green Energy Times annual collections run from 2016 to present.

Special climate topics

Short papers covering selected topics in more detail