Solarpunk is an optimistic vision of the future that rejects climate doomerism

Some Notes on SolarPunk

 

 

Emily Wenstrom wrote in AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SOLARPUNK GENRE, "The spirit of solarpunk is one of craftsmanship, egalitarianism, and optimism, where technology can be put to work to solve our greatest problems."

Steve Lord, in Cyberpunk: Then and Now, wrote, "Solarpunk is more than an aesthetic and culture. It has a manifesto, a fediverse instancelow-tech and no-tech online magazines. It is a movement founded in cautious optimism. The Solar part of the term represents a sustainable existence for all. In a world ravaged by avarice-driven climate change, rebellion in favour of sustainability and egalitariansim may be the most punk movement of all.

"Whether Solarpunk the aesthetic and Solarpunk the culture will stay separate from a political alignment is yet to be seen. When it comes to Solarpunk, even I struggle to avoid being cautiously optimistic."


In "Reimagining EV charging: creating inspiring, sustainable spaces for a net zero future",  Lightstate's Alex Hearn writes "as we approach another technological leap, visionary architecture for EV charging stations should capture interest, generate enthusiasm, and inspire optimism."

Intriguingly he writes, "Solarpunk, with its emphasis on sustainability and optimism offers a compelling vision for this new architectural approach. Applied to EV charging hubs, it can create visually and culturally captivating spaces that recharge both vehicles and their drivers."


In "Solarpunk: Why 2023 Must Be the Year of the Sun", Imogen Malpas FRSA wrote,  "Built on a foundation of climate optimism, inclusivity, and democracy, solarpunk asks us to actively imagine a future where we save the planet in tandem with the human and non-human communities sharing our soils—with historically marginalized people at the center."

Imogen concludes, "There are three elements in the growing body of solarpunk literature that have come to characterize the genre: light, abundance, and transparency. If we can weave these into the roots of solar power generation, we can brighten the world into a sunnier place."

 

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