We need solarpunk now more than ever

When our present seems increasingly cyberpunk we must show a better future is possible

[Oh well IMAGE: The Guardian]

At times such as these imagining a deliciously sustainable world might seem like a luxury. The urge may only be to oppose what we see as the enemies in front of us. Or to retreat to a place we feel safe and keep our heads down, hoping it will all blow over.

Now more than ever it’s vital we champion the inspiring futures we want and organise to make them a reality. 

Lessons from the past

Throughout history we’ve seen the power of positive visions to mobilise. In their darkest hours people imagined possibilities beyond the limits of their present. The best changemakers did not just fight against oppressive systems. They articulated a vision for something profoundly better. They created a beacon for those who were tired of injustice and who needed to see possible alternatives.

[Fighting for justice IMAGE: Creative Commons]

In South Africa anti-apartheid leaders like Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu didn’t just fight against a racist system. They envisioned a plural, democratic country that could thrive with rights for all. 

The Great Depression was a very dark time for the USA. Many feared democracy would not survive the extreme economic hardship and inadequate leadership of Herbert Hoover. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s and the New Dealers vision of a more egalitarian society helped build the popular coalition that went on to create a radically fairer United States.

[From catastrophe to renewal IMAGE: Creative Commons]

This in turn served as an inspiration to the British Labour party. They went on to forge a post-war welfare state which did so much to increase equality and opportunity in Britain.

These leaders and movements knew that while it’s necessary to resist, it’s equally essential to imagine. To construct and to believe in an alternative worth fighting for.

Why we need solarpunk

Today, imagining a better future is a powerful act of resistance. It’s a way of reclaiming our agency when it feels like the ground is falling away beneath us. This isn't about naive optimism or pretending the difficulties we face aren’t real.

Rather, it’s refusing to let these problems dominate our thinking. It’s about creating mental and emotional space for ideas that push beyond the status quo, even when the present can feel like it’s crushing us with its darkness.

[We can green our cities IMAGE: WATG Architects]

If we only resist, we risk becoming defined by what we oppose. To change the world for the better we need visions to sustain us. Vivid and inspiring ones that helps keep us going through the tough times and challenges ahead. Ideas of the future that don’t deny the difficult work ahead. They give that work purpose and meaning.

This is why we believe in the power of solarpunk. Not as a fantasy to escape to but as a radical re-imagining of what we can build if we work together for a deliciously sustainable world.

Solarpunk It

Imagining better futures is only the first step. The next is taking action to begin bringing them into reality.

The scale of both the opportunity and the challenges can feel overwhelming. It’s OK to start small, act at whatever level you feel comfortable with and then see about building from there. Below are some suggestions of ways you can get active.

Grow from the ground 

Getting involved in a local solarpunky project can help build a sense of achievement and connect you with others in your community. Joining things like local food-growing projects, community energy schemes and neighbourhood-level mutual aid networks are all ways you can nourish the seeds of a solarpunk future today.

Support art and media that promote visionary thinking

Help amplify voices and platforms that are sharing stories for deliciously sustainable futures. Share, subscribe and donate to media doing this work. If you enjoy writing, creating videos or other art consider making some to champion solarpunk, with us if you like.

Engage politically

Don’t lose sight of the local and national policies affecting climate, social justice and sustainability. Helping to influence legislation and hold politicians accountable is a direct way to start turning aspirations into realities.

Seek out those candidates and representatives at every level of government that most align with your vision for the future. Support them to champion a deliciously sustainable world from within the state.

For simple ideas on how to get started influencing your local politics see this Instagram post by our friend Katie Patrick.

The power to change

Solarpunk is not just for environmentalists or activists. It’s for anyone who feels alienated by today’s rapid changes and unequal systems.

It offers a new kind of story, a more powerfully inclusive one than opposition alone. One where we can excite a wider diversity of people with how much better things could be.

[Everyone’s invited to the solarpunk party IMAGE: Sean Bodley - Patreon]

Our visions are not luxuries or distractions. They are the fuel that will help power us to a deliciously sustainable future.

Keep imagining, keep acting, keep solarpunking.

Build solarpunk

The main way this substack grows is people like you sharing it. Help bring a protopian future a little closer by passing this on to anyone you think might enjoy a dose of inspiration.

See you in the sunshine,

Alex Holland

Founder, SolarPunk Stories