Upcoming & Past Programs

MWCS hosts an ongoing regional speaker series that highlights and showcases significant practices, policies, and ideas that move our society towards a more sustainable, equitable, and low-carbon future.

Below is a listing of upcoming programs as well as an archive of past offerings, some with links to recordings and cited sources.

Mar

Love That Dirty Water:

Tuesday, March 11, 2025
7:00 PM 8:30 PM
Google Calendar ICS

How a Cleaner Charles River Will Yield Safer, More Resilient Communities

Since 1965, Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) has been the leading voice for a cleaner, healthier Charles River. While the river is significantly improved from its “Dirty Water” days, the work is not done. And now we face the growing threat of climate change, bringing flooding, extreme heat, more frequent drought, and more. Join us to learn what further action is needed to achieve a swimmable Charles, and how modernizing our water management practices will make your community better able to withstand the weather extremes of climate change.

Join us for a webinar with Emily Norton, who has served as Executive Director of Charles River Watershed Association since 2018. She directs a staff of scientists and advocates focused on protecting and restoring the Charles River and its watershed communities. During her tenure, the organization has more than doubled in staff and has expanded its work in municipal climate resilience, dam removal, reducing invasive species, and more. Emily previously served as Massachusetts Chapter Director for the Sierra Club, and prior to that, worked in political fundraising in Washington D.C., as a finance director on a Cape Cod congressional campaign, and as a political appointee in the Clinton Administration U.S. State Department.

Emily also served as an elected City Councilor in her hometown of Newton until retiring in 2023. In this role she led on passage of the Newton Power Choice program, banning single-use plastic bags, restricting the use of polluting leaf blowers, and changing the name from the outdated “Alderman” to “City Councilor.”

Emily holds a BA in philosophy from the University of Vermont and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School.

View Event →

Feb

Don't Throw It Away -- Donate!

Tuesday, February 11, 2025
7:00 PM 8:30 PM
Google Calendar ICS

Massachusetts is facing a waste crisis. It is quickly running out of landfill space and no new sites are currently in the pipeline. In addition, trash incinerators are operating at capacity. A significant portion of the trash we throw out isn’t really trash but products waiting for a second life – perfectly reusable sinks, doors, mantles, beds, dressers, housewares, etc. One person’s trash is another’s treasure. How do we connect the “excess” with the “need?”
^₍^_more…^₎

Click here to watch a recording of this program

Click here for a list of businesses that recycle a wide range of products.

Upcoming & Past Programs

MWCS hosts an ongoing regional speaker series that highlights and showcases significant practices, policies, and ideas that move our society towards a more sustainable, equitable, and low-carbon future.

Below is a listing of upcoming programs as well as an archive of past offerings, some with links to recordings and cited sources.

How a Cleaner Charles River Will Yield Safer, More Resilient Communities

Did you miss our January 11th workshop on "Winter Sow", a way to start our local native perennials from seed over the winter? Watch this tutorial which steps you through the process, and next spring you will be ready to plant your new baby native plants.(more…)

*where and when it makes sense to do so

Ross Trethewey, P.E., M.Eng.,Building Engineer for This Old House and Ask This Old House

Ross Trethewey is Principal of TE2 Engineering with extensive experience updating homes to create a more energy-efficient and sustainable environment.(more…)

Massachusetts is unique in being both among the most populated and most forested states. Residents of the Commonwealth look to forests for so much: from wood to water, from walking trails to wildlife. (more…)

Sen. Michael J. Barrett presented an update on the State’s climate policy.(more…)

Massachusetts has a mandate to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. To achieve these goals, the State Legislature must now pass legislation on multiple fronts to make this goal a reality.(more…)

Is Massachusetts Ready for Climate Change? (Part I)

Buildings account for 27% of Massachusetts greenhouse gas emissions. Governor Healy’s plan for the sector: “Electrify everything.”

When the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources rolled out new building codes at the end of 2022, they introduced a new Specialized Code, intended to help meet the state’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.(more…)

Learn why some cooks are switching from gas to induction cooking.

In recent years, many local towns have created roles for sustainability specialists. These professionals lead and coordinate their town’s sustainability initiatives and help to raise awareness about environmental issues. (more…)

What is the relationship between climate change and social justice?

How can residents of the suburbs most effectively take action to promote greater climate equity?(more…)

The food we eat, where we buy it, and how that food is grown affects our health and that of the planet. Approximately one-third of total human-made greenhouse gas emissions are linked to our food system.(more…)

Listen to a livestream from First Parish in Lincoln, where Bill McKibben reads from his latest book, The Flag, The Cross, and the Station Wagon.(more…)

with Matt Honkonen of East Coast Solar(more…)

with Steve Breit, cofounder of HeatSmart Alliance(more…)

with Kirstie Pecci, Executive Director, Just Zero(more…)

Featuring Larry Chretien, Executive Director of Green Energy Consumers Alliance (more…)

with Claudia Thompson, Founder, Grow Native Massachusetts (more…)

but were afraid to Ask!

“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” (more…)

Part 2: The House perspective with Rep. Jeffrey Roy

Join Rep. Jeffrey Roy and Rep. Alice Hanlon Peisch for this discussion of proposed climate and energy legislation being considered during this session at the State House. We anticipate an active Q&A period. (more…)

Part 1: The Senate Perspective with Sen. Michael Barrett

Join State Senator Mike Barrett and Professor Chris Knittel from MIT for an overview and discussion of proposed climate and energy legislation being considered during this session at the Statehouse. (more…)

Let’s green our gifting, downshift the décor, and compost the cookie crumbs! (more…)

Going beyond installing a programmable thermostat and some insulation in the attic… (more…)

Speakers will include Dr. Laurel Schaider, Senior Scientist, Silent Spring Institute and Laura Spark, Senior Policy Advocate for Clean Water Action. The program will be moderated by Elizabeth Saunders, Massachusetts State Director at Clean Water. (more…)

… restoring biodiversity, one yard at a timewith Renowned entomologist Dr. Doug Tallamy of the University of Delaware (more…)

Did you miss our January 11th workshop on "Winter Sow", a way to start our local native perennials from seed over the winter? Watch this tutorial which steps you through the process , and next spring you will be ready to plant your new baby native plants.
^₍^_more…^₎

Ross Trethewey, P.E., M.Eng.,
Building Engineer for This Old House and Ask This Old House

Ross Trethewey is Principal of TE2 Engineering with extensive experience updating homes to create a more energy-efficient and sustainable environment.
^₍^_more…^₎

Massachusetts is unique in being both among the most populated and most forested states. Residents of the Commonwealth look to forests for so much: from wood to water, from walking trails to wildlife.
^₍^_more…^₎

Sen. Michael J. Barrett presented an update on the State’s climate policy.
^₍^_more…)

Massachusetts has a mandate to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. To achieve these goals, the State Legislature must now pass legislation on multiple fronts to make this goal a reality.
^₍^_more…^₎

When the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources rolled out new building codes at the end of 2022, they introduced a new Specialized Code, intended to help meet the state’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.
^₍^_more…^₎

In recent years, many local towns have created roles for sustainability specialists. These professionals lead and coordinate their town’s sustainability initiatives and help to raise awareness about environmental issues.
^₍^_more…^₎

How can residents of the suburbs most effectively take action to promote greater climate equity?
^₍^_more^_…)

The food we eat, where we buy it, and how that food is grown affects our health and that of the planet. Approximately one-third of total human-made greenhouse gas emissions are linked to our food system.
^₍^_more…^₎

Listen to a livestream from First Parish in Lincoln, where Bill McKibben reads from his latest book, The Flag, The Cross, and the Station Wagon.
^₍^_more…^₎

with Matt Honkonen of East Coast Solar
^₍^_more…^₎

with Steve Breit, cofounder of HeatSmart Alliance
^₍^_more…^₎

with Kirstie Pecci, Executive Director, Just Zero
^₍^_more…^₎

Featuring Larry Chretien, Executive Director of Green Energy Consumers Alliance
^₍^_more…^₎

with Claudia Thompson, Founder, Grow Native Massachusetts
^₍^_more…^₎

“We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” ^₍^_more…^₎

Join Rep. Jeffrey Roy and Rep. Alice Hanlon Peisch for this discussion of proposed climate and energy legislation being considered during this session at the State House. We anticipate an active Q&A period. ^₍^_more…^₎

Join State Senator Mike Barrett and Professor Chris Knittel from MIT for an overview and discussion of proposed climate and energy legislation being considered during this session at the Statehouse. ^₍^_more…^₎

Let’s green our gifting, downshift the décor, and compost the cookie crumbs! ^₍^_more…^₎

Going beyond installing a programmable thermostat and some insulation in the attic… ^₍^_more…^₎

Speakers will include Dr. Laurel Schaider, Senior Scientist, Silent Spring Institute and Laura Spark, Senior Policy Advocate for Clean Water Action. The program will be moderated by Elizabeth Saunders, Massachusetts State Director at Clean Water. ^₍^_more…^₎

… restoring biodiversity, one yard at a time
with Renowned entomologist Dr. Doug Tallamy of the University of Delaware ^₍^_more…^₎