Category Archives: Opinion

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Recent U.S. Climate Report: Likely Human Influence Dominant Cause Of Observed Warming Since Mid-20th Century

By Don Corrigan

It is a serious omission that Environmental Echo is just now getting around to the US government’s new climate report released a few weeks ago.

Bloomberg has had some very helpful background information on this climate report.  As Carl’s Climate Letters reports, because of its length the report will probably not be read by many people, but it can still be useful as a tool in adversarial situations because of its unquestionably high quality.

The Bloomberg report: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-06/how-the-trump-white-house-wound-up-releasing-dire-climate-report

Here is just a short excerpt from that report by Bloomberg: (see below)

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Posted on November 27, 2017 in Environment, Opinion

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Thoughts On Gavin Schmidt’s Climate Predictions

By Don Corrigan

Gavin Schmidt of REAL CLIMATE continues to follow a disturbing warming trend in 2017.  He predicts 2017, which is now drawing to close, will be either the second or third warmest on record, behind the leader 2016.  Also, it will be the warmest ever for a year not under the influence of El Nino.  Schmidt has a very informative site
that provides a commentary on climate science by working scientists for the concerned public and working journalists.  REAL CLIMATE aims to provide a quick response to developing stories and provide the context sometimes missing in mainstream commentary. I like to go to Schmidt’s archives, such as July, when RealClimate posts this: 

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Posted on November 19, 2017 in Opinion

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What Is That On The Train Moving Through The Local Area?

Photo: Lloyd Todd.

Residents of our area keep a wary eye on what’s coming down local railroad tracks. Maybe this can be traced back to the 1980s, when radioactive rubble from Three Mile Island (TMI) passed through on the way to Idaho.

That rubble caused an uproar. Protests resulted in railroads making a number of concessions. For example, the canisters of deadly materials were put on dedicated trains. Buffer cars were placed on either side of shipment railway cars as a safety measure in case of collisions.

In recent weeks, we’ve had several inquiries about huge tubes passing by on the rails. What do they contain? Do they pose any hazard?

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Posted on September 18, 2017 in Environment, Opinion

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Carl’s Climate Letter Has Been Following The Flood Waters

Water over the top of Marshall Road in Kirkwood. photo by Diana Linsley.

Check out Climate Carl’s recent flooding analysis and commentary.

Posted on August 29, 2017, by Carl Campbell in Carl’s Climate Newsletter #990. 
“How often can you expect to see a 500-year flood?  This article in Vox has all kinds of interesting commentary on the subject of flood probability.  One spot in the Houston area has had three of the 500-year type in just five years.  New definitions are needed, and they are likely to have an effect on things like community preparations and property insurance rates.”
Find more interesting and informative environmental analysis from Climate Carl at Carl’s Climate Letters.

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Posted on September 4, 2017 in Environment, Opinion

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Don’s Dossier: Daggers & Daisies – Can A Little Common Sense Save Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park?

Don Corrigan serves up his weekly opinion about who deserves a dagger for being a foe to the environment and who deserves a daisy for being a friend of the environment.

This week: Daisies To Arlene Sandler: This Woman Has A Better Idea for Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park – Daggers to Legacy Ice Foundation’s Indoor Hockey Facility’s Bad Idea for Creve Coeur Lake Nature Area

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Posted on July 21, 2017 in Opinion

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Many Local Communities Moving Forward With The Paris Climate Accord

“I believe the President hurt our country and the world by withdrawing from the Paris Agreement,” said University City Mayor Shelley Welsch. Photo credit: West End Word.

“Since we won’t act globally, then it’s time for us to act locally.” That’s the mantra for area residents who do not believe opening old coal mines is the answer to job growth – or the way to address the global warming crisis.

Not long after our President nixed America’s lead role in the global Paris Agreement for combating climate change, my work computer lit up with emails like a Christmas tree – full of LEDs. The messages were about enlisting local mayors to take up the challenge of sensible environmental and sustainable energy policies.

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Posted on June 28, 2017 in Environment, Opinion

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Don’s Dossier: Daggers & Daisies – GOP Establishes Itself as “Anti-Environment Party” Rejecting Past Legacy; Meanwhile, Environmentalists in St. Louis Go Local

Don Corrigan serves up his weekly opinion about who deserves a dagger for being a foe to the environment and who deserves a daisy for being a friend of the environment.

This week: Steve Bannon and GOP Leaders and Local St. Louis Mayors & Environmentalists.

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Posted on June 17, 2017 in Home, Opinion

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Don’s Dossier: Daggers & Daisies – Trump & America’s Young Evangelicals

Don Corrigan serves up his weekly opinion about who deserves a dagger for being a foe to the environment and who deserves a daisy for being a friend of the environment.

This week: Trump Joins Syria and Nicaragua To Take Stand Against What He Calls The “Chinese Hoax” of Global Warming.

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Posted on June 2, 2017 in Opinion

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Perfect Storm: Climate Change, Commercial Development, and Floodplains

Photo by Ursula Ruhl, South County Times

“How high’s the water, mama?” Johnny Cash sang in 1974. The  scary answer: “Five feet and risin.’”

The late, great Cash should have seen our flooding Meramec River, between Kirkwood and Fenton, earlier this month. He could have easily sang, “43 feet and risin.’”

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Posted on May 26, 2017 in Environment, Opinion

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Don’s Dossier: Daggers & Daisies – Goodall & Blunt

Don Corrigan serves up his weekly opinion about who deserves a dagger for being a foe to the environment and who deserves a daisy for being a friend of the environment.

This week: Daisies  to Anthropologist Jane Goodall, Who Labels U.S. Rejection Of Climate Science As “Depressing” and Daggers to Sen. Roy Blunt, Who Has Joined Trump’s Train To Run Over Climate Scientists And Their Data.

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Posted on April 15, 2017 in Opinion