Literature
The solarpunk genre continues to thrive, offering fresh visions of sustainable futures, ecological resilience, and communities built on mutual aid and regenerative practices. The latter half of 2024 saw an exciting array of new solarpunk books, spanning short story anthologies, speculative fiction, and even nonfiction works that explore utopian ideals
Opinion
In the race to quantify global sustainability, we've created an illusion of progress through numbers. Countries celebrate rankings, while corporations tout framework alignment. Beneath this façade is an uncomfortable truth: we're measuring what's easy, not what's essential for true sustainability.
Farmers in South Asia have a nitrogen problem. It’s not about scarcity—it’s about excess. This imbalance, while boosting rice yields for decades, is now at the heart of environmental and economic challenges in one of the world’s most critical agricultural regions. A recent study analyzing over
RealWorld
How a Common Bacteria Could Save Us from Harmful BPA Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical widely used in plastics, has long been associated with significant health risks. Found in products ranging from food containers to water bottles, BPA has been linked to hormonal disruption, cancer, and other illnesses. Despite regulatory
Imagine walking down the streets of a bustling city, where towering skyscrapers meet gardens bursting with kale, tomatoes, and pollinator-friendly flowers. In backyards, on balconies, and even rooftops, city dwellers are quietly transforming their urban environments into thriving micro-farms. This is urban homesteading: a movement that blends the resourcefulness of
RealWorld
In the northeastern fields of China, a centuries-old farming practice has reemerged, blending traditional knowledge with modern sustainability goals. This innovative system, known as rice-crab co-culture, harmonizes rice production with the cultivation of Chinese mitten-handed crabs (Eriocheir sinensis). By integrating aquaculture into rice paddies, farmers achieve dual benefits: healthier ecosystems
Technology
In the solarpunk imagination, technology is neither a master nor a servant of humanity but a partner—something designed to harmonize with the rhythms of nature and community. It works with the environment, not against it, enabling systems that are resilient, equitable, and kind to the planet. While this vision
In the race to quantify global sustainability, we've created an illusion of progress through numbers. Countries celebrate rankings, while corporations tout framework alignment. Beneath this façade is an uncomfortable truth: we're measuring what's easy, not what's essential for true sustainability.
Solarpunk literature is a vibrant subgenre of speculative fiction that dares to imagine hopeful, sustainable futures. At its heart are stories where technology harmonizes with nature, community thrives, and ecological balance takes precedence. For readers intrigued by this optimistic vision, the following ten books serve as an essential reading list,
The Solarpunk Vision and Its Paradox In the glimmering canvas of speculative futures, few are as enchanting—or as necessary—as solarpunk. Imagine cities alive with greenery: moss-covered rooftops blending seamlessly into vertical gardens, solar panels doubling as art installations, and community markets thriving under canopies of bioluminescent trees. The
Bright futures, rooted in hope.
In Luka Dowell’s Towards a Solarpunk Theory of Technology (Solarpunk Conference Journal 2023), the reader is invited to reimagine the role of technology in society, not as a force that dominates nature and exacerbates inequality, but as one that harmonizes with ecological systems and empowers communities. Dowell’s work,
Introduction As technology advances, electronic waste (e-waste) has emerged as a critical global challenge. According to the 2020 Global E-Waste Monitor, the world generated 53.6 million metric tons of e-waste in 2019, a number projected to reach 74 million metric tons by 2030 (UN University). Shockingly, only 17.4%
Minnesota has made history with the commissioning of Sherco Solar, the state’s largest solar project to date. The 710-megawatt solar farm is a monumental step toward clean energy, repurposing land that once supported coal-fired power for a brighter, greener future.
Henrique Sánchez is a prominent figure in the field of sustainable agriculture, particularly known for his extensive work in hydroponics and innovative farming systems. With over a decade of experience in both organic and inorganic hydroponic projects, he has significantly contributed to advancing sustainable food production methods. Educational Background and
Introduction On a rooftop in Singapore, lush rows of leafy greens thrive in water-filled channels teeming with fish. This farm doesn’t require soil or chemical fertilizers. Instead, it operates on aquaponics—a closed-loop system where fish waste provides nutrients for plants, and plants, in turn, filter water for the
Solarpunk, with its optimistic vision of a sustainable and harmonious future, has found echoes in numerous films across genres. From fantastical adventures to speculative science fiction, these films often explore themes of ecological stewardship, community, and the integration of technology with nature. Here is a detailed synopsis and analysis of
Solarpunk literature is a vibrant subgenre of speculative fiction that dares to imagine hopeful, sustainable futures. At its heart are stories where technology harmonizes with nature, community thrives, and ecological balance takes precedence. For readers intrigued by this optimistic vision, the following ten books serve as an essential reading list,
The morning light filters through a canopy of vibrant green as Maya steps out onto her balcony. Below, the city hums with quiet energy. Towering buildings adorned with cascading vertical gardens reach toward the sky, their solar-paneled facades glinting like mosaics. Streets, once choked with cars, have been replaced by
In the heart of Singapore, the Supertree Grove rises like something out of a dream. These towering, futuristic structures—up to 50 meters tall—are draped in living greenery and equipped with solar panels, rainwater collection systems, and air purification technology. By day, they are vertical gardens; by night, they
On a quiet street in Melbourne, Australia, a lush urban garden sprawls across the rooftops and walls of an apartment complex. Solar panels glisten in the sunlight, while vertical gardens spill over balconies, producing vegetables and herbs shared by the residents below. In the courtyard, neighbors gather for a community
The Solarpunk Vision and Its Paradox In the glimmering canvas of speculative futures, few are as enchanting—or as necessary—as solarpunk. Imagine cities alive with greenery: moss-covered rooftops blending seamlessly into vertical gardens, solar panels doubling as art installations, and community markets thriving under canopies of bioluminescent trees. The