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.

May

We May Need a Bigger Boat:

Wednesday, May 1, 2024
7:00 PM 8:30 PM
Google Calendar ICS

Is Massachusetts Ready for Climate Change?

Join us for a discussion on what Massachusetts should be doing to prepare for the predicted impacts of climate change. MetroWest Climate Solutions is pleased to host Dr. Edwin Sumargo, a Climate Scientist on the Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Climate Team. The team includes climate hazards, mitigation, adaptation, and policy experts as well as staff to support local communities. Dr. Sumargo will discuss the latest climate projections and how his team supports state agencies and municipalities to prepare for the inevitable challenges they will be facing.

Dr. Sumargo has over eight years of experience in geospatial and statistical data analyses, with domain expertise in meteorology, climatology, and hydrology. Before coming to the EEA in 2023, Edwin was a researcher at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. He earned his PhD in Climate Science from UC San Diego.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

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Mar

Transform Your Lawn to Save Our Ecosystem

Thursday, March 21, 2024
7:00 PM 8:30 PM
Google Calendar ICS

According to NASA, turf grass lawn covers more of the U.S. than any other irrigated crop, while degrading our environment. Lawns are resource-heavy, requiring mowing, irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticides to thrive in New England. Learn why you should “kill your lawn” and how to replace it with beautiful and environmentally friendly gardens. Transitioning your yard to incorporate native plants in the lawn or gardens helps to mitigate floods, heat waves, sea-level rise, and the mass extinction of species.
^₍^_more^₎

Click here to watch a recording of this program.

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.

Is Massachusetts Ready for Climate Change?

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…)

… and Why Massachusetts Residents Should Support Itwith Amber Hewett from the National Wildlife Federation. (more…)

with Kirste Pecci, Director, Zero Waste Project, Conservation Law Foundation (more…)

with MA Senator Michael Barrett (more…)

with Xiao Wu, Harvard School of Public Health Ph.D. candidate in biostatistics, and Paulina Muratore, a Senior Campaign Organizer with the Union of Concerned Scientists. (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…^₎

… and Why Massachusetts Residents Should Support It
with Amber Hewett from the National Wildlife Federation. ^₍^_more…^₎

with Kirste Pecci, Director, Zero Waste Project, Conservation Law Foundation ^₍^_more…^₎

with MA Senator Michael Barrett ^₍^_more…^₎

with Xiao Wu, Harvard School of Public Health Ph.D. candidate in biostatistics, and Paulina Muratore, a Senior Campaign Organizer with the Union of Concerned Scientists. ^₍^_more…^₎