Psychology for solarpunk?

Research to help us build a deliciously sustainable world

To build a deliciously sustainable world should we focus on changing ourselves or the system? Is doomerism an effective climate communication strategy? What does academic research say about imagining solarprunked worlds?  

These are just some of the questions Katie Patrick has explored in her brilliant podcast, ‘How to Save the World - The Psychology & Science of Environmental Behavior’.

Katie is an environmental engineer, designer and climate communicator. In her pod she looks at the latest behavioural science literature from top universities about how to best motivate people to bring a deliciously sustainable world about.

In one of our favourite episodes ‘Do Individual Green Actions Take Away From Systems Change?’ Katie talks with environmental and behavioural psychologist Dr. Karine Lacroix.

They unpack her research about whether personal eco-friendly behaviours, like composting, can distract people from working to influence the bigger systems-wide change we need.

Another great episode of the pod drew on Katie’s work on how to encourage people to join together to make their local area more solarpunk. In ‘Reimagine Your Street and Neighborhood’ she provides practical tips and inspiration on how to do this.

In ‘4 Evidence-Based Reasons Why You Need Positive Eco Futures Art’ she explains why having visions of the futures we would want to see around us is important for motivating us to make them happen.

As Katie is an action-oriented person, she recently launched the Ecopia art store, full of such inspiring images. We were one of its first customers.

Katie is offering our readers a special discount code. If you use this link and the discount code SOLARPUNK you can get $5 off your purchase.

What do you think of Katie’s podcasts or artwork? Have you been inspired by any of it? Do you know about other psychological research that is relevant to solarpunk and encouraging people to take action? Let us know in the comments below.

Until Next Time

That's all for this update. If you like what we’re trying to do here and know someone else who might do too then please like, comment and share. 

See you in the sunshine,

Alex Holland

Founder, SolarPunk Stories