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.

Apr

Inundation District - film screening and Q&A with the Director

Tuesday, April 1, 2025
7:00 PM 9:00 PM
First Parish Church in Weston, UU (map)
Google Calendar ICS

An award-winning feature-length film about the implications of one city’s decision to ignore the threats posed by climate change and spend billions of dollars on building a new waterfront district — on landfill, at sea level.

Screening followed by Q&A with the Director and Pulitzer-winning Boston Globe Reporter, David Abel

(Note: this is an in-person event.)

In a time of rising seas and intensifying storms, one of the world’s wealthiest, most-educated cities made a fateful decision to spend billions of dollars erecting a new district along its coast — on landfill, at sea level. Unlike other places imperiled by climate change, this neighborhood of glass towers housing some of the world’s largest companies was built well after scientists began warning of the threats, including many at its renowned universities. The city, which already has more high-tide flooding than nearly any other in the United States, called its new quarter the Innovation District. But with seas rising inexorably, and at an accelerating rate, others are calling the neighborhood by a different name: Inundation District.

The 79-minute film won Best Conservation Film at the Mystic Film Festival as well as the Monadnock International Film Festival's Jonathan Daniels Award, which is given to films that "fuse social and/or political awareness with artistic excellence and encompasses Jonathan Daniels courage by telling stories of hope, redemption, and the triumph of the human spirit."

https://www.inundationdistrict.com/home

View Event →

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 Associati on (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.
^₍^_more…^₎

Click here to watch a recording of this program

Click here to sign up for CWRA’s newsletters

Click here to learn more and register for CWRA’s Water Coalition Lobby Day on April 3

Click here to access CWRA’s flood map site.

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…)

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…^₎