Author: Michael Joseph

Solarpunk is more than just a genre of speculative fiction or an aesthetic of green roofs and solar panels. It’s a vision of a sustainable, equitable future where humanity has embraced regenerative practices that harmonize with nature. At its core, Solarpunk imagines a world rooted in solutions, community, and joy—a “yes” vision to counter the heavy narrative of climate despair. It’s a call to action that celebrates not just the fight against environmental challenges, but the creation of a better, more interconnected world.

This optimistic outlook aligns perfectly with The Evergreen State College’s legacy. Founded on principles of innovation, community, and interdisciplinary learning, Evergreen has long championed the kind of systems thinking and creative problem-solving that Solarpunk thrives on. The college’s focus on environmental studies and its commitment to alternative educational methods make it a natural hub for Solarpunk-inspired action.

Why Solarpunk Matters for Climate Action

In a time when climate discourse often feels dominated by “no”—no to fossil fuels, no to waste, no to environmental destruction—Solarpunk offers a refreshing counterbalance. It’s about saying “yes” to solutions: Yes to renewable energy. Yes to urban gardening. Yes to resilient communities that uplift one another. By focusing on what we can create rather than what we must reject, Solarpunk inspires action through hope and imagination.

This approach is especially vital for combating climate anxiety and burnout. Solarpunk introduces an element of play, joy, and curiosity—essential for sustaining long-term engagement in climate work. At Evergreen, this ethos could transform sustainability efforts into something not just urgent, but deeply inspiring and fulfilling.

Repair Clinics, Bike Shops, and the Solarpunk Campus

Practical initiatives like repair clinics, communal bike shops, and accessible bike stands are inherently Solarpunk. They embody principles of resourcefulness, community-building, and ecological stewardship. Repair clinics teach students to mend and maintain their belongings, reducing waste and building self-sufficiency. Communal bike shops and bike stands make sustainable transportation more accessible, fostering a culture of low-impact travel while empowering students to keep their bikes in good condition.

On college campuses, these initiatives not only achieve sustainability goals—they also support student health and wellness. Biking, for example, is a low-cost, eco-friendly way to promote physical fitness and mental health. It encourages movement, reduces reliance on cars, and provides a sense of freedom and connection to the environment. As part of Evergreen’s focus on holistic education, these efforts contribute to a campus culture where sustainability, wellness, and community care are deeply intertwined.

Building a Solarpunk Future at Evergreen

By integrating Solarpunk ideals into its operations and campus culture, The Evergreen State College can lead by example, inspiring students to envision and build a better world. Imagine an Evergreen campus buzzing with repair clinics where students learn hands-on skills, dotted with solar-powered bike stands, and bustling with bike-friendly pathways that invite students to embrace active, sustainable transportation.

These efforts aren’t just about reducing emissions or promoting green technology—they’re about creating a campus where innovation, joy, and hope thrive. In the process, Evergreen can solidify its legacy as a pioneer of progressive education, modeling what a Solarpunk future could look like for the broader world. Together, we can say “yes” to a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow.

Write-Up Compiled on February 19th, 2025 by MES Student Ian Mann

As part of Evergreen’s Climate Lecture Series, the campus community was lucky to have Dr. Mijin Cha, an assistant professor at UC Santa Cruz, join us to discuss the topic of ‘Just Transition: Ensuring Equity in the Shift to a Carbon-Free Economy’ and share her expertise on the subject. Dr Cha’s vision for a Just Transition has two core tenets. First, any effective global strategy for mitigating climate change must include decreasing fossil emissions by transitioning to energy derived from renewable sources like wind and solar. Second, this transition towards renewable energy production must also include just outcomes at all scales. 

 The history of the Just Transition movement has been intertwined with both the labor justice and environmental justice movements, and Dr Cha’s presentation highlighted the necessity of including labor justice in plans for future energy transitions. Dr. Cha’s vision for a Just Transition focuses on making sure that workers who were previously employed in carbon-intensive industries, such as coal mining or gasoline production, are not left behind in a new and more sustainable future economy. This includes attention towards addressing the effects of economic mono-dependency in areas such as rural Appalachia where there are few economic alternatives to working in the fossil-fuel industry. 

  To pursue labor justice as part of an energy transition it is vital to recognize that, while workers in such industries contribute to fossil fuel emissions through their day-to-day jobs, it is unjust to blame them or hold them responsible for increased carbon emissions. It is not these workers, but rather the corporations which employ them, who are becoming richer by putting the rest of humanity at risk from the adverse effects of climate change. Many contemporary economic models treat workers as replaceable cogs in the market machine, who will choose to move to new locations in search for better jobs if the opportunities in their area vanish. However, these economic assumptions are nothing but fantasy, as it is painfully obvious that people have other motivations besides job opportunity, such as family ties, communities, and other place-based attachments, which determine whether a geographic move is a viable option for them or not. 

 In the wake of failed slogans such as former President Biden’s advice that coal workers “learn to code” in order to remain competitive in a green job market, we must recognize that moving to an urban center or learning an entirely new trade is not a possibility for many workers whose jobs will disappear as society pursues a transition towards much-needed green energy infrastructure. Rather, these workers must be provided with new opportunities to contribute to their communities through low-carbon employment without having to leave those communities or having to learn an entirely new set of skills. 

 Dr. Cha also highlighted the importance of gender equity in labor for a Just Transition. Many high-carbon jobs, such as the examples mentioned above, are situated in male-dominated industries. However, in a discussion of what types of low-carbon employment could be supported in a Just Transition, it is important to consider the fact that many jobs in traditionally “pink-collar” sectors such as teaching, nursing, and care work, are ideal examples of low-carbon employment. Addressing gender inequity across workplaces must also be a part of making sure workers can still make a living as part of the low-carbon sector. 

 Dr. Cha provided examples of measures that could be taken at many different scales as part of a Just Transition. At regional scales, these could look like opportunities for workers to apply their skills to new greener industries and better adjust to new workplaces rather than having to completely re-skill, providing support for workers during transitions in employment, decoupling health insurance from employment status, and pursuing the elimination of gendered pay gaps both within and across industries. At a global scale, a Just Transition could take the form such as free and open access to renewable technologies across borders, or the strengthening of international climate funding measures through pursuing global strategies that are both equitable and sustainable. 

 The Evergreen community thanks Dr. Cha for sharing her experience as an academic, author, and organizer who has worked on both theorizing and actualizing a Just Transition, as well as providing an example of effective climate communication and sharing her hope for a brighter future for everyone. Her book on the subject, A Just Transition For All: Workers and Communities for a Carbon Free Future, is sold by MIT Press and can be purchased through the following link: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262550796/a-just-transition-for-all/. It is also available as an open-access eBook here: https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-monograph/5880/A-Just-Transition-for-AllWorkers-and-Communities 

Exciting Fall Opportunities: Community Internship Positions Available for Evergreen Students! 

Are you passionate about making a difference in your community while gaining valuable hands-on experience? This Fall, the Center for Climate Action and Sustainability at Evergreen is offering a range of paid Community Internship Positions (CIP) for enrolled students. These internships provide an opportunity to work with off-campus organizations actively engaged in climate work across various sectors, including food and agriculture, renewable energy, youth engagement, education, research, and community organizing. 

Find them all by searching “CCAS” on Handshake! 

Why Apply and What to Expect? 

• Real-World Impact: Work directly with organizations making a tangible difference in climate action. 

• Diverse Opportunities: Whether you’re interested in sustainable energy, environmental education, or community organizing, there’s likely an internship for you. 

• Paid Positions: Earn while you learn with positions that are compensated for up to 19 hours per week. 

• Academic Integration: Majority positions require enrollment in at least 2 credits of Climate and Sustainability Internships, integrating your academic pursuits with practical experience. Please see each job posting on Handshake to see if it has this requirement.

Available Internships for Fall: 

• Deschutes Watershed Research Intern 
• Estuarium Education and Outreach 
• Graduate Sustainability Fellow (no 2-credit academic requirement)
• Municipality Initiative Research Intern  
• Nisqually River Education Project 
• Olympia Community Solar 
• RAD Sustainability Coordinator  
• Thurston Climate Action Team Climate Change Intern 
• Thurston Climate Action Team Communications Intern
• South Sound Green Education Intern 
• Washington Green Amendment 
• Youth Climate Action Facilitator  

Continuing internship opportunities include: 

• Mason County Conservation District 

• Puget Sound Estuarium 

• Nisqually Reach Nature Center 

• Salish Roots Farm 

Don’t miss out on these incredible opportunities to kickstart your career in sustainability and climate action. Apply now via Handshake and take your first step toward a brighter, greener future! 

Note: All (with a few exceptions) positions require enrollment in at least 2 credits of Climate and Sustainability Internships. Maximum 19 hours per week.