Solarpunk Futures

On this episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast from Solarpunk Magazine, host Justine Norton-Kertson looks how extreme heat is changing the way World Cup matches are played, and asked why those same protections aren't afforded to all working people.Website: https://solarpunkmagazine.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkmagOur Social MediaBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/solarpunklitmag.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarpunklitmagTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solarpunklitmagFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/solarpunklitmagNews Articles and Other SourcesStudy warns of dangerous heat at 2026 World Cup as climate risks growhttps://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/study-warns-dangerous-heat-2026-world-cup-climate-risks-grow-2026-05-14World Cup puts urban heat risk in the spotlighthttps://www.reuters.com/sustainability/society-equity/world-cup-puts-urban-heat-risk-spotlight--ecmii-2026-06-16Mexico, Italy and others see up to two more months of heat stress than in the 1970s, study sayshttps://apnews.com/article/climate-heat-stress-feelslike-temperatures-50-days-daae5fb348e8cb587bccdf770e842611Two World Cup matches were played in ‘severe heat’, analysis findshttps://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jun/19/world-cup-matches-severe-heat-level-analysisHydration breaks affect game more than I initially thought, says England's Tuchelhttps://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/hydration-breaks-affect-game-more-than-i-initially-thought-says-englands-tuchel-2026-06-22/Heat at work: Implications for safety and healthhttps://www.ilo.org/publications/heat-work-implications-safety-and-health Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast from Solarpunk Magazine, host Justine Norton-Kertson dives into the data center revolt with three examples of communities fighting back and saying no, including Illinois, La Pine, Oregon, and Monterey Park, California. Then, Justine outlines a solarpunk standard for data center approval.Website: https://solarpunkmagazine.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkmagOur Social MediaBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/solarpunklitmag.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarpunklitmagTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solarpunklitmagFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/solarpunklitmagNews Articles and Other SourcesAmericans wary of AI-driven data center boom, Reuters/Ipsos poll showshttps://www.reuters.com/world/us/americans-wary-ai-driven-data-center-boom-reutersipsos-poll-shows-2026-06-11US power use to beat record highs in 2026 and 2027 as AI use surges, EIA sayshttps://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-power-use-beat-record-highs-2026-2027-ai-use-surges-eia-says-2026-06-09Gov. Pritzker slows down data center developmenthttps://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/06/09/gov-pritzker-slows-down-data-center-developmentA small Central Oregon town shoots down data center developmenthttps://www.opb.org/article/2026/05/28/la-pine-rejects-data-center-central-oregonIn first, California city overwhelmingly votes to permanently ban datacentershttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/03/california-monterey-park-datacenters-ban Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast from Solarpunk Magazine, host Justine Norton-Kertson brings you part 2 of our series of disaster prep as community care, and this episode is all about wildfire season. How do we prepare for the smoke, the evacuation orders, and fire? And how to ensure that those who need help aren't left behind to fend for themselves?Website: https://solarpunkmagazine.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkmagOur Social MediaBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/solarpunklitmag.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarpunklitmagTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solarpunklitmagFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/solarpunklitmag Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast from Solarpunk Magazine, we’re launching our series on disaster prep, not as a hyper-individualist apocalyptic fantasy, but as mutual aid and community resilience. We're calling this series "Disaster Prep is Community Care: An Anti-Prepper Survival Guide." Each Monday for the next eight weeks, we'll explore how real disaster preparedness isn't about hoarding supplies and hiding in a bunker, but is an organizing tool for building stronger communities and ensuring that when systems fail, no one is left behind.Website: https://solarpunkmagazine.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkmagOur Social MediaBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/solarpunklitmag.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarpunklitmagTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solarpunklitmagFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/solarpunklitmag Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast from Solarpunk Magazine, host Justine Norton-Kertson discusses the recent Regenerative Agriculture pledge signed by over 40 major food and agriculture companies, and asks if regenerative agriculture is becoming the next greenwashing scam. Website: https://solarpunkmagazine.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkmagOur Social MediaBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/solarpunklitmag.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarpunklitmagTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solarpunklitmagFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/solarpunklitmagSOURCES AND LINKSGlobal food and beverage giants join forces on regenerative agriculturehttps://www.reuters.com/business/environment/global-food-beverage-giants-join-forces-regenerative-agriculture-2026-05-19From pilots to practice: a new bid to scale regenerative agriculturehttps://www.reuters.com/sustainability/land-use-biodiversity/pilots-practice-new-bid-scale-regenerative-agriculture--ecmii-2026-05-18Climate reporting rules for food sector set high bar for regenerative agriculturehttps://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-finance-reporting/climate-reporting-rules-food-sector-raise-bar-regenerative-agriculture--ecmii-2026-04-15Rewarding farmers for regenerative agriculture is ‘critical for decarbonising the food sectorhttps://www.reuters.com/sustainability/land-use-biodiversity/rewarding-farmers-regenerative-agriculture-is-critical-decarbonising-food-sector-2024-06-10 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast from Solarpunk Magazine, host Justine Norton-Kertson discusses the recent UN General Assembly vote on climate action and the idea that climate aid isn’t charity or leverage in political negotiations, but instead, is an obligation. Our Website: https://solarpunkmagazine.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkmagOur Social MediaBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/solarpunklitmag.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarpunklitmagTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solarpunklitmagFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/solarpunklitmagSOURCES AND LINKSNews Articles on the UN Vote:https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-vanuatu-trump-administration-international-court-90b89dc776e0bece17f2ab4064b7f71ehttps://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/un-backs-world-court-climate-opinion-us-among-few-oppose-2026-05-20https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/22/un-climate-crisis-vote-shows-political-momentum-growing-expertsUN Resolution Text: https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/4113865/files/A_80_L.65-EN.pdfhttps://www.icj-cij.org/case/187ICJ Advisory Opinion: https://icj-web.leman.un-icc.cloud/sites/default/files/case-related/187/187-20250723-adv-01-00-en.pdfColumbia Law Blog Articles: https://blogs.law.columbia.edu/climatechange/2025/08/13/a-panoply-of-consequences-remedies-and-reparations-in-the-icjs-climate-opinionhttps://blogs.law.columbia.edu/climatechange/2025/08/05/new-standards-in-government-framework-litigation-legal-implications-of-the-icj-advisory-opinion-on-climate-change Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast from Solarpunk Magazine, host Justine Norton-Kertson discusses local, national, and international efforts to grant legal rights to nature.Our Website: https://solarpunkmagazine.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkmagOur Social MediaBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/solarpunklitmag.bsky.socialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/solarpunklitmagTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@solarpunklitmagFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/solarpunklitmagSOURCES AND LINKSLane County Watersheds Bill of RightsFull ballot measure language: https://www.protectlanecountywatersheds.org/read_ordinanceThe ballot measure explained: https://oregonvotes.gov/voters-guide-military/Measure20-373Explanatory.htmlArguments in favor: https://oregonvotes.gov/voters-guide-military/Measure20-373ArgInFavor.htmlArguments opposed: https://oregonvotes.gov/voters-guide-military/Measure20-373ArgOppose.htmlGeneral Rights of Nature Sources"Should Trees Have Standing" by Christopher D. Stone: https://southerncalifornialawreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Christopher-D.-Stone-Should-Trees-Have-Standing_%E2%80%94Toward-Legal-Rights-for-Natural-Objects-45-S.-CAL.-L.-REV.-450-1972..pdfGlobal Alliance for the Rights of Nature: https://www.garn.org/rights-of-natureCase StudiesTamaqua, Pennsylvania: https://celdf.org/2015/08/tamaqua-boroughToledo, Ohio: https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2020/03/06/lake-erie-bill-rights-federal-court-unconstitutionalOrange County, Florida: https://aldf.org/article/legal-rights-recognized-for-rivers-in-florida-and-quebecGrant Township, Pennsylvania: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/13062023/pennsylvania-fracking-wastewater-injection-wellshttps://celdf.org/2023/05/unrepentant-and-vindicated-proposed-frack-waste-injection-well-in-grant-township-to-be-plugged-and-abandonedNew Zealand: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2017/7/en/latest/#DLM6831462Columbia: https://apnews.com/article/atrato-guardians-illegal-mining-contamination-threats-choco-977ad1e171715b8f7fb20a8ac6b9e149 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast from Solarpunk Magazine, host Justine Norton-Kertson talks about AI and what it costs us, our communities, and our planet, then imagines what public computational infrastructure and solarpunk data centers might look like.Reuters ArticlesAEP raises capital plan to $78 billion as data center power demand skyrockets https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/aep-raises-capital-plan-78-billion-beats-profit-estimates-data-center-demand-2026-05-05/Duke Energy Tops Profit, Revenue Estimates Rate Recovery, Weather Boosthttps://www.reuters.com/business/energy/duke-energy-tops-profit-revenue-estimates-rate-recovery-weather-boost-2026-05-05/US power use to beat record highs in 2026 and 2027 as AI use surges, EIA sayshttps://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-power-use-beat-record-highs-2026-2027-ai-use-surges-eia-says-2026-05-12/Other Cited Sourceshttps://www.utilitydive.com/news/duke-energy-earnings-anderson-gas-plant/819428/Solarpunk Magazine: https://solarpunkmagazine.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkmagFollow Solarpunk Magazine on social media:BlueskyInstagramTikTokFacebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Demand Utopia: A Solarpunk Podcast from Solarpunk Magazine, host Justine Norton-Kertson discusses power outages as a matter of life and death for millions of people who rely on electricity to power their medical devices, making the case that we should understand the electric grid as a care system and build collective systems of support rather than relying on personal preparedness.The Invading Sea - "Power outages can threaten the lives of medical device users – knowing who is most at risk will help cities respond"https://www.theinvadingsea.com/2026/05/05/medical-devices-outages-backup-power-energy-bills-solar-climate-change-rechargeable-batteriesSolarpunk Magazine: https://solarpunkmagazine.comPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/solarpunkmagFollow Solarpunk Magazine on social media:BlueskyInstagramTikTokFacebook Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Demand Utopia, host Justine Norton-Kertson discusses the balance between aesthetics and politics in the solarpunk genre. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Demand Utopia, host Justine Norton-Kertson talks about the history and purpose of borders, then does a thought experiment imagining what a solarpunk future without borders—with freedom of movement—might look like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we examine the current attempts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and how DEI is at the center of those attacks. Then, we imagine what decentralizing education might look like from a solarpunk perspective instead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A war on protest has been declared, with promises to expel, arrest, imprison, and deport student protesters. But resisting dictatorship and dystopia is key to building utopia. That's why on this episode, we're breaking down the current war on protest, its connection to past state crackdowns on movements, and how solarpunk offers a different vision. We also talk about various ways people can engage in resistance even if they can't or don't want to attend street protests. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.