What is Solarpunk

 

"Solarpunk: A genre that envisions how the future might look if humanity succeeded in solving major contemporary challenges with an emphasis on sustainability problems such as climate change and pollution. Although solarpunk is highly concerned with technology, it also embraces low-tech ways of living sustainably such as gardening, positive psychology, and DIY culture."

Solarpunk - as it was defined by Wikipedia in 2022

 

To me 'Solarpunk' is a genre of fiction that explores the simple question: "What if this all works out?" While apocalyptic fiction preoccupies itself with all the ways our society can be destroyed and what comes after, Solarpunk acknowledges that all of those terrible things may come to pass and we can get through it. It is by its nature, in my opinion, an optimistic genre that should focus on primarily optimistic stories. Mostly because that is the type of story we desperately need at this moment in time.

 

'Solarpunk' as an ethos can be divided into three main parts.


A diagram in the form of a triangle. At the apex is Love. In the bottom left is Sustainable Flourishing. In the bottom right is Anti-Fragility.

 

Love

Love, in the deepest broadest sense, is a major driving force of this movement. Love of our planet and love of each other, making decisions based on compassion as the guiding star.

 

Sustainable Flourishing

The term "Sustainable Flourishing" originates with the book Sustainability by Design by John Ehrenfeld. The underlying idea is that it's not good enough to make technology that is less harmful. "Clean" tech and even "Net Zero" are not enough. We need to treat our biosphere as the complex system that it is, and reinforce biological systems so we AND the biosphere are both continuously flourishing. It's moving away from the concept of extraction, and since reading this book I've learned that it's much closer to Indigenous models of biosphere management.

 

Anti-Fragility

The concept of "Anti-Fragility" originates with System Thinking or System Design. In the sustainability world you'll often hear things like "climate resilience" and "robustness" but anti-fragility as a concept goes beyond this. When you try to break an anti-fragil system it comes back stronger by design.

How to be a Solarpunk!

how to be a SolarPunk - a black and white comic by jam. Page 1 - panel 1: a little cat-person in a farmer's hat and overalls is holding a potted plant. Behind them are windmills and solar panel on a partly-cloudy day. Cat: SolarPunks believe that we can create a better future together. One where we all thrive without damaging the planet or its people. Maybe you've wanted to join in on the fun! p2: A confused looking cat-person: But what if you don't know where to start? p3: Just decide! Cat (Arms raised in excitement): I want to be a SolarPunk! You can start today, wherever you are! p4: Being a SolarPunk is all about making decisions. In our lives, there are some options that are more or less aligned with the SolarPunk ethos. To be a SolarPunk, choose the best aligned option as often as possible. In this panel the Cat-person is walking with a map. They are walking away from a sign that reads Less Solarpunk pointing to a heavily industrialized city and signs that say buy buy buy! They are walking towards a sign that says More Solarpunk and indicates a community powered by green energy with aquaculture gardens and bicycles.

How to be a Solarpunk - a comic by jam, page 2. p1 (A farmer-looking cat person is lecturing another cat person. They are saying no to cars and spending money, and yes to bikes! The person being lectured at looks nervous, they are thinking of their three kids and groceries that need to be carried...) Not everyone will agree on what the most SolarPunk option is in a situation. p2 (The two cats agree on a bus and shake hands): But learning to disagree and compromise for the greater good of all is part of being a SolarPunk! p3 (Many different kinds of people are shown over a landscape that transitions from suburban to rural to urban): You don't need to dress, work or eat a certain way, or live in a certain place. SolarPunks can be anyone and can start their practice from anywhere!

How to be a Solarpunk - a comic by jam, page 3. p1 (A montage showing buying local, right to repair, zero waste, a repair cafe, biking to work, going veg, help a neighbor, plant a garden): There are lots of ways to start your journey to being more SolarPunk. Try them out bit by bit, and don't worry about doing them all at once. Before you know it, your whole life will start transforming into something completely new! Cat person (with stars in their eyes): Wow! So many options! p2 (a beautiful SolarPunk community with solar panels, libraries, windmills, gardens, water towers, and lots fo people around): When millions of SolarPunks are all working together, we can be sure we'll create a worls where both people and our planet will be able to heal and flourish.