By Michael Joseph and Aeowyn Isobel
The challenges we face—climate change, political instability, systemic injustice—can feel overwhelming. But Solarpunk offers us a vision of hope, resilience, and action. This guide isn’t about naive optimism or doomer despair; it’s about meaningful meliorism—the belief that with thoughtful effort, we can make things better.
Solarpunk is more than an aesthetic. It’s an idea and movement rooted in regenerative relationships between people and the planet, imagining futures where communities thrive. This guide is a starting point, combining practical tools and emotional strategies to help you navigate tough times and build a better world.
1. Start With Yourself: Emotional Resilience and Self-Care
Before you can engage with broader action, you need a strong foundation. Taking care of your physical and emotional well-being is essential, not optional.
· Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs: Address basic needs like rest, nutrition, and safety before tackling larger challenges.
· Expand Your Window of Tolerance: This psychological concept refers to the capacity to cope with stress and regulate emotions. Practices like mindfulness, journaling, and time in nature can help expand it.
· Grieve and Feel: It’s okay to mourn the losses around you. Honoring these feelings makes space for growth and action.
Practical Tip: Incorporate mindfulness into your day. A simple nature walk or grounding exercise can help you process emotions and recharge.
Related Resource:
Work That Reconnects offers exercises to foster emotional resilience and community connection.
2. The Four Levels of Action: From Personal to Global
To make change less overwhelming, use the framework of the Four Levels of Climate Action, which applies to many areas of life:
1. Individual: Start small. Grow your own food, repair items, reduce waste, or learn a new skill.
2. Close Community: Build stronger connections with family and friends. Create mutual aid networks or start local projects.
3. Broader Communities: Volunteer, organize events, or support local organizations.
4. Systemic Change: Advocate for policy changes, support sustainable businesses, and push for corporate accountability.
Practical Tip:
Reflect on where you are in these levels and what feels doable for you right now. Small, imperfect actions collectively create powerful change.
Related Resource:
Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson’s Climate Venn Diagram helps identify where your passions, skills, and needs intersect.
3. Find Your Role in the Ecosystem of Change
Not everyone is a frontline activist, and that’s okay. Consider your role in the broader social ecosystem:
· Healer: Focus on care and emotional well-being.
· Storyteller: Inspire others through writing, art, or performances.
· Organizer: Create systems and bring people together.
· Builder: Design practical solutions, from permaculture gardens to green infrastructure.
Practical Tip:
Use the Climate Venn Diagram or Joanna Macy’s Four Questions of Preparation to discover your role:
· What do I love?
· What am I grateful for?
· What do I grieve?
· What do I envision?
4. Community Resilience: Building Together
Solarpunk emphasizes collective action and mutual aid. No one thrives alone.
· Start a Mutual Aid Network: Share resources, skills, and support with your neighbors.
· Celebrate Joy: Host community art projects, potlucks, or music events to foster connection and hope.
· Reclaim Nature: Collaborate on regenerative projects like community gardens, habitat restoration, or tree planting.
Practical Tip:
Look for local groups already doing this work, or start your own with a small, focused mission.
Related Resource:
The Indigenous Environmental Network offers guidance on community resilience and environmental justice.
5. Decolonize Your Mindset: Reframing Nature and Humanity
Western myths often portray humans as destroyers of the environment, but Indigenous practices show that we can be regenerative stewards of the earth.
· Challenge the Wilderness Myth: Humans are not inherently harmful to nature. Many cultures have coexisted sustainably with their environments for centuries.
· Reconnect with the Land: Spend time observing, learning from, and contributing to your local ecosystem.
Practical Tip:
Learn about Indigenous practices and perspectives in your area. Start small by planting native species or learning traditional ecological knowledge.
Related Resource:
Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass is an excellent introduction to Indigenous wisdom and sustainability.
6. Avoid Burnout: Regenerate Yourself
Burnout doesn’t just harm you—it ripples through your community. Avoid it by prioritizing rest, reflection, and regeneration.
· Feel Good vs. Do Good: Ask yourself: Is this action about venting or building bridges? Balance emotional release with constructive action.
· Slow Down to Go Far: Focus on strategic, sustainable efforts rather than quick fixes.
Practical Tip:
Incorporate “regenerative rest” practices into your week—disconnect from social media, spend time in nature, or engage in creative hobbies.
Related Resource:
Adrienne Maree Brown’s Emergent Strategy explores sustainable movement-building inspired by nature.
7. Taking Action: Tools and Resources
To get started, here’s a curated list of tools, readings, and resources:
· Books:
o Emergent Strategy by Adrienne Maree Brown
o All We Can Save by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katharine Wilkinson
o This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein
· Podcasts:
o How to Save a Planet
o Outrage + Optimism
· Websites:
You can also visit the climate center’s resource page to find links to additional information. And if you see opportunities or gaps, please email us at ClimateAction@evergreen.edu so we can continue adding/cross linking other collections of resources!
Conclusion: Hope as a Practice
The future isn’t set in stone, and neither are we. Solarpunk reminds us that resilience and regeneration are possible, even in the face of daunting challenges. Start small. Rest often. Dream big. Together, we can create a world where hope isn’t just an idea but a practice.
Author’s Note: This guide was originally conceived following the November 2024 election results. When a retired faculty member (Rob Knapp), mentioned how our political-grief (and angry) felt reminiscent eco-grief and the nuclear-fear earlier generations felt. And how a peer had pointed out to him at the time, that while it felt the/his world was ending, that many Indigenous peoples have had their sense of world altered/ended, but we as humans rebuild and experience regrowth time and time again.
