Newspaper articles and opinion pieces

Columns and feature articles written for the Sunday Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus in Vermont (and recently the Green Energy Times, which are often edited versions of Herald articles).

For each year, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 there is an compilation of my "Planet" newspaper columns.

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 have been published with different graphics 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

Show All Articles

2021-07-10Trust, Truth and Climate change: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2021-05-29Choosing Truth or Lies: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
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
2020-10-03The Truth Matters: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2020-09-04Capitalism, Courage and Justice: Green Energy Times
2020-08-01Our Present Task: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2020-06-21The Global Economy Crumbles: Green Energy Times
2020-06-21Phase-out fossil-fuel financing: Green Energy Times
2020-06-13Capitalism, Courage and Justice: 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
2019-10-12The Global Rebellion starts: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
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
2019-02-23The clash between oil and the future: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2019-01-05Time to Face the Future: Rutland Herald and 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
2018-06-02Our 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
2017-11-04Robbing 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
2017-06-10Needed: Clarity and Courage: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
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
2016-12-31Toward Solidarity, Community: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2016-12-15One world is ending, start working on the next: Green Energy Times
2016-11-12Externalizing the Costs: Rutland Herald and 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
2016-06-19Earth 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
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
2015-01-25The transformation ahead: 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
2014-05-11Celebrate Mother Earth today: 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
2013-09-08Communities can build a more resilient society: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2013-06-02Spring resilience and fossil carbon taxes: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2013-01-20Reflections on our environment, five years later: 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
2012-05-20Climate change requires us to become an energy-efficient society: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2011-10-23Understanding and dealing with a changing world: Rutland Herald
2011-09-11Vulnerability and resilience after tropical storm Irene: Rutland Herald and Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2011-09-04The second flood of 2011: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2011-04-03Let’s be honest about our global interdependence: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
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
2010-10-10Today is a day of climate action around the world: Rutland Herald
2010-08-29Earth’s Response to human stresses on the natural landscape: Rutland Herald
2010-06-06Oil disasters and the transition to sustainability: Rutland Herald
2010-04-25Spring climate transition and new beginnings: Rutland Herald
2009-12-06The Copenhagen Challenge: Rutland Herald
2009-10-04Retrofitting your house for energy efficiency: Rutland Herald & Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
2009-05-10Balancing technology, economics and values: Rutland Herald
2009-04-05Envisioning a sustainable energy future: Rutland Herald
2009-01-18Winter reflections, one year on: Rutland Herald
2008-11-17Sustainable Systems: Rutland Herald
2008-10-05Care for our forests: Rutland Herald
2008-08-03Facing the truth about our policies: Rutland Herald
2008-03-23A challenge we all face: Rutland Herald
2008-01-20Welcome to the planet: Rutland Herald
2007-09-09How can we maintain our technological society?: 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

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.

Special climate topics

Short papers covering selected topics in more detail