Solarpunk

Americans, collectively, are not optimistic about the future. In fact, they seem pretty pessimistic about it and nostalgic for the past.

That likely doesn’t surprise anyone.

Negative sentiments about the future, cynicism, and challenges that feel insurmountable dominate not just our politics but also literature, TV, and broader media. A sense of impending doom has become our culture’s prevailing narrative.

Put another way, Star Trek is out for our mainstream, and Snowpiercer is in.

This creates a cultural conundrum: While challenges lie ahead, we can’t solve problems we don’t believe have a solution— and the prevalent cultural zeitgeist reflects, in some ways, our collective conscience and, in turn, our ability to solve wicked problems.

Put another way, if the popular content we consume fails to offer hope, inspire a future, and provide solutions to our challenges, how can the people who are part of this culture be expected to imagine better? We are what we consume, after all.

The antidote is more “Star Trek,” more “The Martian,” more narratives of hope, possibility, and what we can do. There is yet to be a problem humanity hasn’t successfully engineered its way out of, and it begins with believing that there are attainable solutions.

This topic has been brewing in my mind for some time, and so when we were out with friends at our local brewery for some Oktoberfest fun, and someone started talking about a hopeful sci-fi genre called “Solarpunk,” my ears perked up.

A sustainable future

Solarpunk is a movement in speculative fiction, art, fashion, and activism that envisions how the future might look if humanity succeeded in solving significant contemporary challenges with an emphasis on sustainability, climate change mitigation, and social equality.

Solarpunk envisions a future that embodies some of humanity’s best: an egalitarian post-scarcity world in which we do not exploit resources but see ourselves as stewards, A future where we recognize that we are part of nature and community and have transitioned to a post-capitalist system.

Much like its predecessor, Cyberpunk, which was(is?) a reactionary movement to the social, cultural, and economic trends of its time, Solarpunk, too, is a reaction to its time, born ostensibly out of fatigue with the grimness and dystopia that dominate our mainstream.

In other words, whereas Cyberpunk created a narrative of rebellion by opting out of the system, Solarpunk seeks to rebel by revising the narrative of what is feasible.

It is about human ingenuity and generativity, independence, and community. It is about self-reliance, refusing pessimism, and sustainable living. It is about generating incremental revolutions and acknowledging that the status quo doesn’t have to be permanent. Tomorrow doesn’t have to be just a mild variation from today, and it doesn’t take one massive push but sustained incremental efforts.

The framework

That said, Solarpunk, while optimistic, isn’t naive in its vision. Challenges are ahead, and unquestioning optimism won’t help us address them. That is where Solarpunk sets itself apart as a movement and not just as a literary/artistic genre of Sci-Fi— it is very interested in the how.

Although not prescriptive in its execution, I’ve found some reoccurring pillars or themes that are at work,— broad principles (strategies?) that Solarpunk(s) envision employing to help us get to where we want to go:

Technological Innovation:

• Emphasis on renewable energy sources, particularly solar power

• Development of sustainable urban design and green architecture

• Focus on circular economy principles and zero-waste technologies

• Advancement of sustainable agriculture techniques like vertical farming and permaculture

Social and Political Restructuring:

• Advocacy for decentralized, community-based decision-making and cooperative economic models

• Push for universal essential services (healthcare, education, housing)

• Emphasis on local production and consumption (the “15-minute city” concept)

Ecological Integration:

• Reimagining cities as integrated ecosystems

• Restoration of natural habitats and biodiversity

• Development of technologies that work with natural processes rather than against them

Cultural Shift:

• Promoting a shift from consumerism to a culture of sustainability and sufficiency

• Encouraging the sharing economy and collaborative consumption

• Fostering a culture of repair, reuse, and longevity of goods

Education and Knowledge Sharing:

• Open-source sharing of green technologies and practices

• Emphasis on environmental education and sustainability skills

• Creation of global networks for sharing solutions and best practices

Grassroots Action and Community Building:

• Encouragement of local initiatives and community projects

• Focus on building resilient local communities

• Promotion of participatory democracy and civic engagement

Incremental and Systemic Change:

• Recognition that change happens gradually and requires both small-scale actions and systemic shifts

• Emphasis on creating positive feedback loops where small changes lead to more significant transformations

So, while Solarpunk is grounded in a core philosophy and desired outcomes and encompasses a range of specific policy ideas and proposals, it maintains flexibility in implementing these ideas, recognizing the need for solutions tailored to local contexts and encouraging innovation and diversity in achieving its goals.

Freaking neat, right!?

There are some big ideas here, some great ideas. Downright inspiring.

But you know me, so I am not gonna kid you: it won’t be easy.

Obstacles

• Resistance from existing power structures: Moving away from entrenched capitalist systems isn’t just about developing the right technologies; it requires overcoming vested interests and powerful opposition. Decentralizing power will require technological innovation and political will, and these forces often move slowly in the face of entrenched interests.

  • How do we decentralize power to benefit local communities and the environment? The answer isn’t simple, but change starts with questioning the systems we take for granted.

  • How do we displace capitalism’s hold on our society, a system deeply woven into global governance?

  • How do we incentivize civil servants and those in power to embrace and execute this vision?

• Technological adoption: We depend intensely on fossil fuels, and adopting sustainable technologies isn't happening fast enough. Meat consumption and other resource-heavy industries contribute heavily to environmental degradation, and current efforts to mitigate these issues still face serious challenges.

  • How do we drive greater and faster adoption of green technologies in a scalable and affordable way for all communities?

  • How do we build more sustainable agriculture practices that can be adopted globally without disrupting food security?

• Cultural and psychological barriers: Consumerism is deeply ingrained, particularly in the US. I’m a consumer and don’t always make the most sustainable choices. Changing these habits and convincing people to give up convenience for an intangible greater good is no small task.

  • How do we shift from consumption to repairing and maintaining what we have? How do we make the sustainable choice the easy choice?

  • How can we help people envision a post-scarcity world where abundance isn’t tied to ownership and endless growth?

Dislodging existing power structures and deeply ingrained cultural beliefs about “what is” is incredibly difficult. But that is, in my view, what Solarpunk is about. While these are real, significant obstacles, they aren’t insurmountable.

Each of these is a reminder that the path to a sustainable future isn't linear but a collective effort requiring us to rethink, redesign, and resist.

Solarpunk embraces the belief that resistance to existing power isn’t futile, and it begins with art. Through stories, we inspire others to imagine the world differently, and once people start to envision a new future, they are empowered to act.

So, where do we begin? It starts with small, meaningful actions that ripple outward. Let’s explore how we can build the future together.

Building it

Many people who identify as strivers will likely have heard of Atomic Habits by James Clear. In it, Clear discusses focusing on incremental gains in our habits, or “1% better every day,” which will get you a 37% improvement over a year.

The idea here is that small, daily, sustained effort will yield significant progress over a large enough time horizon.

We can apply the same principle to evaluate whether we are trending in the right direction, identify where and how we can use our efforts to build the desired future, and bank on incremental progress compounding into significant gains.

There is already more momentum today, even at the federal level than in prior years. In 2022, we passed an infrastructure bill that delivered a massive capital injection into greening our infrastructure. Similarly, there's increasing talk of an abundance agenda in political and economic circles—one that aims to redefine prosperity in sustainable terms.

But where I want to focus is on you and me.

Change begins with individual agency, local community, grassroots action, and knowledge sharing.

Ideas spread through compelling narratives. Whether positive or negative, once they take hold, they can reshape culture. By embracing and spreading these narratives, we actively shape our culture. Every story we tell, every small act we take, builds toward a collective reimagining of what's possible.

So, the best way to help spread and implement the ideas discussed today is to model and lead by example. To make a Solarpunk future possible, we need to share the alternative narrative and look for opportunities to make an impact.

You will likely not always meet your standards here—I know I don’t. Life is a set of competing priorities, and it is not always easy to choose the most sustainable option, engage in your community, and discuss challenging topics with others.

But if you and I both commit to making the choice that gets us 1% closer to that Solarpunk world every day and try to nudge those around us to do the same, I believe it will compound and accelerate our ability to arrive there. So make art that inspires or Engineer sustainable alternatives. Write about it. Eat a little less meat, or get involved.

That 1% better, those small, consistent actions in our lives, embracing our agency as change-makers, and modeling the lifestyle, attitudes, and behavior will inspire others to act, generating a powerful network effect. Start at home, with your friends, and in your community.

What do you think?