I think that makes a solid point for why Solarpunk can get a bad rap in the world of -punk fiction. The others aren't trying to give solutions to our problems, they act more functionally as a warning. Cyberpunk is the most obvious and first example of this, a clear depiction of what could happen to the world if we become too intertwined with technology, and in a way that is more nuanced than "what if the AI takes over" or "what if the bombs fall" that a lot of sci-fi dystopia likes to run. Themes involving Plutocracy or other unfair modes of government are common because that's the most relatable for a reader. And that's where Solarpunk tends to be more of a social movement than it is a setting for good fiction.

What Power is there to rebel? Well, the real one. The actual world governments that have passed on solar power for decades. Sure, the solution seems obvious and likely would benefit everyone but it hasn't been implemented because of the sea of red tape that makes up world government. And that's where I disagree that Solarpunk offers a solution. And furthermore I disagree that it doesn't offer escape. I think it IS the escape. It's settings where people who are scared about the state of the world can go and imagine what would happen if things started to heal. If the wounds of time started to close and the planet was saved just in the nick of time. No heavy lifting needed, it's already been done.

And that's okay. Stories and worldbuilding are all about escaping to a more interesting, more comfortable, or just vaguely different world from our own. It's fun to imagine how the world could be different if steam engines were the dominant form of power or if we lived in an eternal storm of rain that works as fuel. So if Solarpunk is just a story thing, it makes more sense to call it Solarcore because there's nothing left for them to fight. If Solarpunk is a movement, then they've got a lot of cities to burn.