TriplePundit • “A Solar-Powered Party:” Activists Around the World Will Celebrate the Sun This Weekend

The fight against climate change has largely depended on science and hard data to shift our appetite for energy away from fossil fuels. This reliance comes at the expense of a powerful tool: culture. That’s changing. The importance of cultural momentum is now recognized at the United Nations annual climate talks, among leaders of faith, and through climate movements like the inaugural Sun Day.

Sun Day is a day of action dedicated to events and celebrations to get people excited about solar energy while also advocating for policies that promote renewable energy and climate justice. It will take place on September 21 in honor of the autumnal equinox and feature solar parades, faith rallies, marches, meetings with state legislators, musical performances, an upcycled art workshop and more. The activities are spread across the United States and international cities.

As the Global Ambassador for Sun Day, singer and actress Antonique Smith is kicking off the festivities by singing “Here Comes the Sun” in New York City’s Times Square on Saturday, September 20. She’ll follow that up the next day by singing at the flagship event in Brooklyn. “It’ll be like a solar-powered party,” Smith told TriplePundit.

Sun Day was founded by author and environmentalist Bill McKibben under the notion that joyful cultural forces can galvanize people to transition to renewable energy. It is also supported by actress and activist Jane Fonda and a range of organizations, including the Sierra Club, Fossil Free Media and the United Church of Christ.

“All of us believe very heavily in using culture to change this world, to change people’s hearts to win this climate crisis,” Smith said.

Doing so means eliminating a big roadblock: misconceptions about the accessibility of solar. It’s something Smith came across while on tour with Climate Revival, a faith-based climate nonprofit that she founded along with activist Reverend Lennox Yearwood Jr. to muster support for solar power and bring environmental justice to Black communities. Smith recalled a question and answer session where she was asked why they were focusing on solar power when it was meant for “rich white people.”

“People of Color, and poor people specifically, look at solar power …. as something that is not for us. It’s not something we can afford,” she said. “It’s a luxury.”

While rooftop solar systems were very expensive when they first came out, the price tag is decreasing. The costs of solar have fallen significantly and are expected to fall further. With lower prices comes greater accessibility. Just under half of new solar adopters were low- and moderate-income households in 2023, according to research from the Berkeley Lab and the U.S. Department of Energy.

By showcasing solar power through events like parties and parades, Sun Day intends to show that renewable energy is not out of reach for average homeowners. The hope is that, through a combination of education and entertainment, everyday people can be empowered to be a part of the solution in any way they can.

Focusing on art, faith, and culture helps spark the joy and hope necessary to give the fight against climate change staying power in the face of despair and overwhelm, Smith said. For those who are able to pursue renewable energy for their homes, being part of the solution could help them maintain a sense of control. That, too, has the potential to stave off feelings of worry and anxiety.

“We can have hope and joy in this moment that feels so scary and fearful and chaotic because we don’t have to find the solution,” Smith said. “We have solutions.”

Featured image credit: GreenFaith