regenerative ideas for a solarpunk future in this blended fiction documentary film
By Alex Holland
Damon Gameau's documentary, 2040, isn't your typical climate change film. Instead of dwelling on dystopian futures, it offers a refreshing perspective, a roadmap to a brighter world built on existing solutions.
The film follows Gameau on a journey to discover innovations that could revolutionize our relationship with the environment. We meet experts in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and community-driven economics. These glimpses into real-world projects showcase the potential for a future that's not only sustainable but thriving.
A World Transformed: A Glimpse into a daughter's Future
One of the film's most charming and effective storytelling devices is Gameau's use of creative visualizations. Imagine a world in 2040, not as a dystopian wasteland, but as thriving home for his little daughter, Velvet now a young woman in 2040. Through clever animation and split-screen comparisons, the film contrasts the world of today with a potential future shaped by embracing sustainable solutions.
For instance, we see the Velvet of 2040 donating her home’s production of energy to her neighbours through their local smart grid when she goes away on holiday. This future vision draws on the real-world example from today of people in rural Bangladesh selling and sharing decentralised solar power through their own community energy networks.
These playful visualizations don't just showcase technology, they paint a picture of a more vibrant future for generations to come.
A multitude of inspirations
The film looks at how other things like regenerative agriculture and seaweed farming can be deployed to make Velvet’s future greener and fairer. The weakest part of the film for us is when it champions self-driving cars for cities. We are deeply skeptical about the net benefits of so-called autonomous vehicles and favour cycling and other non-car forms of transport instead, especially for urban environments.
However 2040’s vision of cities with far fewer cars has a really solarpunk element to it. The centre of town is filled with the sound of birdsong and bees instead of engines and horns.
More Than Just Tech
2040 isn't just about technology. It also highlights the importance of social and economic change including Kate Raworth’s concept of Donut Economics, the empowerment of women and a shift towards education that fosters environmental responsibility. The film also features heartwarming segments with children sharing their hopes for the future, a powerful reminder of what's at stake.
A Call to Action
Ultimately, 2040 is a call to action. It doesn't preach or shame, instead, it inspires viewers to imagine a better future and take steps to make it a reality. The film's website even offers a multitude of resources and educational materials to help viewers to take action.
A Breath of Fresh Air
2040 is a thought-provoking and inspiring documentary which in its visualsiation of a sustainable and socially just future is very solarpunk to us. It offers a hopeful vision for the future and a clear message: a better tomorrow is possible, and we have the tools to create it. By using his daughter, Velvet, as a narrative device, Gameau personalizes the stakes and makes the fight for a sustainable future all the more compelling.