ALL NEWS + EVENTS
With the Upcoming Vote on the Climate Plan Warrant Articles at Town Meeting, Hingham Needs to Focus
by Laurie Freeman Would you like to hear some great news about climate change? Recent studies including a groundbreaking report by Rewiring America show that we don’t need miracle technologies to address it – we have real solutions now, and if we deploy them rapidly – we can still protect our children from the Read more
Hingham Net Zero General Meeting: April 21 at 7pm
Hingham Net Zero will host its next general meeting on Wednesday April 21 at 7pm. Please email hinghamnetzero@gmail.com for the zoom link. This will be the last general meeting before Town Meeting!
We Joined the Hingham Civic Association!
We are proud to join the Hingham Civic Association along with all the other wonderful non-profit organizations who serve Hingham. The Hingham Civic Association is a group of Hingham community organizations coming together to ensure that civic organizations thrive in a post pandemic world. We are looking forward to engaging Read more
An Incomplete Reading, Watching, and Listening Guide
Books, TV, film, youtube, magazines, and podcasts are a great portal to learn about environmentalism and the climate crisis. Whether you are interested in learning the basic science, imagining a post-apocalyptic future, appreciating nature, or exploring solutions there is something out there for you. We have compiled an incomplete list Read more
Town Meeting Date Announced
SAVE THE DATE: TOWN MEETING MAY 8 at 2pm at Hingham High School fields. The Board of Selectmen has confirmed the Town Meeting date. Clear your calendars for MAY 8 at 2pm so you are able to vote and make your voice heard. At this meeting we will be voting Read more
Special Event: Climate Crisis and its Solutions Webinar
Join us on Tuesday, April 6th at 7:30pm for "The Climate Crisis and its Solutions", a webinar highlighting the current state of the climate crisis as well as promising solutions. Based on the "Truth in 10" presentation from former Vice President Al Gore, Hingham Net Zero's Christin Eigenmann will guide Read more
My Climate Story
by Jo-An Heileman In the late 1960’s, I was among many people who were becoming alarmed at the state of our environment. I was not a true activist, but I wrote to my elected officials, and voted accordingly. I was very excited when the first Earth Day was celebrated in Read more
Must Read: John Borger’s Op Ed Articles
What Exactly Is a Climate Action Plan? A Look at Concord’s Plan… Originally appeared in the Hingham Anchor (2/3/21) and Hingham Journal (3/9/21) We recently commended the Selectmen’s decision to seek approval and resources at Town Meeting for development of a Climate Action Plan (CAP) for Hingham. We provided a Read more
The Antidote
by Christin Eigenmann Why bother? Switzerland is my home country; it is where I grew up and spent most of my life. And yes, Switzerland is beautiful, Switzerland is literally ‘perfect’. Everything works out perfectly, even the trains leave exactly the minute they were scheduled. Everything is perfectly organized, from Read more
Hingham Net Zero General Meeting: Wed Mar 17 @ 7pm
Hingham Net Zero will host its next general meeting on Wednesday March 17 at 7pm. We plan to discuss the advisory committee's recommendations on the Climate Action Plan Warrant Articles, Laura Burns' campaign for the light board, and more! We hope to see you there! Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4711356657?pwd=OVFyaDF6ZjdudnB6MUhYak1BYzJ0Zz09 meeting ID: Read more
CALL TO ACTION – Tell the Advisory Committee that you support the Climate Action Plan warrant articles!
The Advisory Committee is a deliberative body chartered by the Town of Hingham General By-laws to consider all articles in any Town Meeting Warrant and to make recommendations on each article as it deems to be in the best interest of the Town. The CAP warrant articles will be discussed Read more
Climate Action Banner at Old Ship Church
A big thank you to Old Ship Church who is kindly hosting our Climate Action sign! We are so appreciative of Old Ship Church's support for climate action in Hingham. By building our network of support, our community can make change. Rev. Ken Read-Brown will be publishing an article Read more
2021 Climate Action Plan Warrant Articles
Want to know what HNZ is fighting for? Check out the two warrant articles introduced by the Board of Selectmen that will help our town take the important first steps towards creating a viable Climate Action Plan for Hingham. Voting YES on these articles at Town Meeting 2021 will be Read more
Hingham Net Zero Meeting – Wednesday February 17
Hingham Net Zero's next monthly meeting is tomorrow, Tuesday February 17 at 7pm! Email hinghamnetzero@gmail.com for the zoom link. See you there!
Earthrise by Amanda Gorman
We were so inspired by Amanda Gorman's beautiful poem "The Hill We Climb" at the Biden Inauguration. Her poem, "Earthrise" about the climate crisis is equally moving. Read more
OPPORTUNITY: Communications Internship [FILLED]
This position is now FILLED. If you would like to be considered for future internship opportunities or explore other ways to get involved, please email hinghamnetzero@gmail.com Are you passionate about the climate and have communications experience? You may be the perfect fit for this opportunity! Job Description Length and Location: Read more
Support Climate Action in Hingham : Opinion
Opinion from HNZ member John Borger urging citizens to support an upcoming warrant article that will advance Hingham toward a solid climate action plan. Please read the full opinion published by the Hingham Anchor here.
Hingham Net Zero monthly meeting moved from Wednesday, Jan 20th to the next day, Thursday, Jan 21, 7 pm
The January meeting, usually the third Wednesday of the month, has been rescheduled this month to the day after, because there are some important events scheduled to occur in the larger universe, and folks would like to be able to attend to them.
HNZ Talks About Going Solar on Harbor Media’s Green Living
Have you thought about going solar? Check out the latest Harbor Media episode of Green Living. HNZ member Anne Morin speaks to HNZ co-founder and former selectman Laura Burns about why she feels it’s important for our town to take climate action. Read more
Action Needed: Stand Out for Climate Action
After the success of Climate Action Hour in October, we are hoping to have small bi-weekly standouts starting Dec.12 through to April Town Meeting. Read more
Managing Food Waste & Composting
Wednesday, December 2 at 7pm, join HNZ members Brenda Black, Janice McPhillips and Peter Swanson to learn about strategies to lower your carbon footprint by reducing food waste and composting the rest (or at least the fruit/veggie part of the rest). Read more
Town of Hingham announces hearing on climate action plan, November 17, 7:00 pm
The Hingham Climate Action Plan Task Force is working with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to outline the scope of a climate action plan in preparation to request funding for the development of a climate action plan at the Spring 2021 Town Meeting. Join us to share your thoughts Read more
Climate Action Hour – Saturday, October 31 at 11 am
We would like to invite you to STAND UP and STAND OUT in support of CLIMATE ACTION! This family-friendly event is an opportunity for Hingham residents that are concerned about the climate crisis to visibly show their support for CLIMATE ACTION.
Hingham Net Zero Meeting
Our next HNZ meeting is Wednesday, October 21 at 7pm.
The Climate Crisis & Its Solutions with Christin Eigenmann – Tuesday, October 20 at 7:15pm
Hingham Net Zero member and volunteer Climate Reality Leader personally trained by former Vice President Al Gore Join us to learn about the science & solutions to the climate crisis and to find out what actions you can take for Hingham, for the future generations of Hinghamites and for our home planet.
Virtual Hingham Solar and Low Carbon Technologies Open House Tour
HNZ is hosting the all-virtual local Hingham Solar and Low Carbon Technologies Open House Tour which begins 9/28 and will be available for online viewing through the month of October.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 16 at 7pm
We hope you'll join your Hingham neighbors on Wednesday, September 16 because the work you see below will be bigger and better with more folks working on it.
Living Our Values
by John Borger We started composting kitchen scraps and yard waste around 2010 in a 3-bay composting bin I built out of lumber I salvaged from renovating our front stairway. This eliminated disposal at the Transfer Station of all our food garbage (which, buried underground in large quantities, can emit Read more
Residential Solar Panels Presentation – Thursday, July 23 at 7 pm
Please join us for a Zoom presentation by Hingham resident John Borger, who has recently installed solar at his home and has done ALL the research for you regarding going solar right here in Hingham. You don't want to miss this informative presentation!
Rediscovering my Passion
by Anne Morin. I understood from a young age that humans were negatively impacting the world around us and that I wanted to do something about it. My heroes were the scientists in the National Geographic magazines that I devoured as a child and I knew that one day, Read more
Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at 7 PM – 8:30 PM: Rep. Joan Meschino – 2050 Roadmap Bill
Rep. Joan Meschino will present her 2050 Roadmap Bill, which outlines how our state can achieve NET ZERO emissions by 2050 through establishing intermediate emissions targets, carbon pricing, robust reporting, an inclusion requirement for environmental justice, and more. Please join us on this ZOOM Forum to find out more about Read more
July 7 at 7pm: Hingham Net Zero Virtual Engagement Series: Introduction to Air-Source Heat Pumps
HNZ is observing Blackout Tuesday in honor of black lives lost and postponing our talk. Please visit our website again soon, join our email list or follow us on Facebook to be informed of the new time. ASHPs are an efficient and green way to heat and cool your home Read more
A Physicians’ Climate Story: Love, Loss, Physiology & Duty
by Ben Kerman I’m a physician, and as I watched the old man breathing with the ventilator–pasty, white and cold–I could not, had not ever, imagined my father this way. We asked the ICU team to remove the breathing tube and ventilator as my father would have wanted, turned up Read more
Next HNZ Meeting: Wednesday, June 17 at 7 pm via Zoom.
Our next HNZ meeting will be June 16, 2020 at 7 pm. Please email HinghamNetZero@gmail.com to get the Zoom link.
Call for Climate Stories
One of the biggest challenges that climate change scientists, policymakers, and activists have struggled with over the past several decades is COMMUNICATION. How can we effectively convey the urgency of this crisis to as many people as possible and compel them to act? One strategy that has promise is that Read more
Next HNZ Meeting: May 20 at 7pm
We'll be meeting next Wednesday evening, May 20, at 7 pm, to review what we've done since our last meeting and plan next steps. The details for the Zoom meeting are below. Here's the agenda: the forum planning group will report on how its first online forum on EVs went, Read more
May 5, 2020 – HMLP Board Meeting Summary
Special thanks to Light Board member Roger Freeman for providing a summary of their most recent meeting: REC SALES The General Manager, Paul Heanue, reported that he sold Hingham’s Class I Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from our existing wind projects, and bought “Replacement” Class II RECs so that Hingham could Read more
Electrical Vehicle Presentation Slides
Download the slides from HNZ's Virtual Engagement series presentation on electrical vehicles here.
HNZ April 22 -Meeting Report
Twenty-four of us met on Wednesday to discuss our projects. There's a lot we can be doing right now, and not everyone can take every action, but here are some things you can do to help - maybe you will find something you would like to engage. Hingham Climate Action Read more
Hingham Net Zero Launches Virtual Engagement Series
Join us for our first Zoom chat on electric vehicles on April 23 at 11 am. Have you ever thought about what it would be like to drive an electric car? Are you unsure about what you need at home to charge an electric vehicle? Have you wondered whether there Read more
Next HNZ Meeting: Wednesday, April 22 at 7 pm & Summary of Hingham Light Board Meeting
Next Hingham Net Zero meeting - Wed. April 22, 7 pm via Zoom - please email HinghamNetZero@gmail.com for the link to attend. Agenda: discuss our response to light plant action (see report below), hear the plans the forum subcommittee has been working on for community education and ask how we Read more
Hingham Light Board Meeting April 15 7:30 am
Last week the Hingham Light Board voted to make the light plant's power portfolio more carbon-free by retiring the Renewable Energy Credits which come with the renewable energy they purchase, and not selling them on. This decision is once again on the agenda for a special light board meeting this Read more
NY Times 4/7/20: Oil Companies Are Collapsing, but Wind and Solar Energy Keep Growing
The renewable-energy business is expected to keep growing, though more slowly, in contrast to fossil fuel companies, which have been hammered by low oil and gas prices. Read full article here.
ACTION ITEM: Hingham Light Board Renews Commitment to Zero Emissions – Call to Voice Your Support!
Last week, the Hingham Light Board voted in favor of my resolution to maintain Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant's net zero carbon policy for two more years. This means HMLP will purchase renewable energy credits to cover the emissions of the fossil fueled energy we use. Recognizing this is a stopgap Read more
Please Join Us for Energy Action Committee Dial-In Meeting: 4 pm on March 20, 2020
Energy Action Committee Remote Meeting via conference call: Dial: 1 929 205 6099, Meeting ID: 322 959 662 Discuss the warrant article proposal on climate action planning submitted for April 2020 Town Meeting and next steps Planning for solar energy adoption in Hingham Discuss any other matters brought before the Read more
Hingham Anchor Report on Selectmen’s Commitment to Energy Action Committee Net Zero Task Force
Read recent coverage in the Hingham Anchor here.
Update: 3/3 Selectmen’s Meeting
Last night (3/3) the Board of Selectman asked the Town Administrator to create a climate planning task force to move ahead immediately with the project of creating a climate action plan. They considered this a better approach than the warrant article, which proposed getting Town Meeting support for a larger Read more
Update re: Warrant Article: Please attend Selectmen’s Meeting tonight, 3/3
For those following the progress of the Town's Energy Action Committee's article on the Town Meeting warrant which calls for developing a climate action plan, the Energy Action Committee voted last night on whether to proceed with the article as is, or withdraw it and go with a plan to Read more
Tuesday, March 3 – Board of Selectmen meeting, Hingham Town Hall
The Hingham Board of Selectmen will consider what the Energy Action Committee decided at the meeting on March 2. This will be a really important opportunity for us to show up and show town support for creating a climate action plan, however the town ends up going about it.
IMPORTANT:Energy Action Committee meeting RESCHEDULED to Monday 3/2 @ 7:30 pm
Should Town Meeting vote to start the process of creating a climate plan for Hingham? The Town's Energy Action Committee will be discussing this on March 2 at Town Hall, 7:30 pm. The Committee has drafted an article to do that, but some people in the selectmen's office feel the Read more
Ways to Make an Impact
"Climate change, experts have widely stated, is a problem that must be solved at a policy level. But this doesn’t mean that families can’t make choices that will have a real impact." Click here to read a great recent article from the Washington Post with simple, actionable steps families can Read more
Takeaways from Climate Xchange Webinar on Communication of the Climate Crisis
Net Zero-ers Laura Burns and Ben Kerman summarized the webinar for us. Here's what they learned: Messaging: Useful and Not Useful Here are problems with current approaches to discussing climate change, which don't put the human element into the discussion: In many images, there are no humans - just landscapes Read more
Starting on the Road to Net Zero
In the fall of 2019, the town of Hingham's Energy Action Committee asked the Board of Selectmen to approve a project for the committee: to figure out how to make a plan to reduce carbon emissions all across the town. The Selectmen agreed, and the committee will be proposing to Read more
Cover image for all blog category pages is copyrighted Brooke Bartletta Photography.