Transition Towns

In my last post, I described my vision of decentralised, sustainable settlements, and suggested some ways in which existing urban areas could evolve in this direction. And in an earlier entry on “How we beat climate change”, I described how local community action will be vital to our future. Today, I want to introduce a practical initiative called ‘Transition Towns’ that is inspiring many communities in the UK. The idea is relatively new, and hence concrete results are still scarce, but more and more communities are signing up. The information here is summarised from the website, and a downloadable 48p. “Transition Initiatives Primer.” If you feel inspired after reading this, how about starting a project where you live?

In response to the twin pressures of Peak Oil and Climate Change, some pioneering communities in the UK, Ireland and beyond are taking an integrated and inclusive approach to reducing their carbon footprint and increasing their ability to withstand the fundamental shifts that will occur as we pass Peak Oil. They are unleashing their collective creativity and adaptability through coordinated projects that lead to a planned reduction in energy use in all areas of life. Their aim is not only survival but creation of “a way of living that’s significantly more connected, more vibrant and more in touch with our environment than the oil-addicted treadmill we are on today.”

As we near the end of the era of cheap oil, and face the necessity of drastically curbing our emissions of greenhouse gases, “it’s difficult to overstate what this means to our lives in the developed countries.” In the words of Andrew McNamara, Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation in the Australian State of Queensland:

There's no question whatsoever that community driven local solutions will be essential. That's where government will certainly have a role to play in assisting and encouraging local networks, who can assist with local supplies of food and fuel and water and jobs and the things we need from shops. It was one of my contentions in the first speech I made on this issue in February of 2005... that we will see a relocalisation of the way in which we live that will remind us of not last century, but the one before that. And that's not a bad thing. Undoubtedly one of the cheaper responses that will be very effective is promoting local consumption, local production, local distribution. And there are positive spin offs to that in terms of getting to know our communities better. There are human and community benefits from local networks that I look forward to seeing grow.

Many of us are inclined to wait for governments or new technologies to bail us out. But governments are powerless without broad electoral support, and new technologies take too long to develop and implement. It’s time that we took the lead in our local communities. We have to act NOW, before it is too late. It is imperative that those of us who are aware of the dangers set an example of what is possible by instigating local action NOW.

Do you feel daunted? Do you feel that one individual, one local community can make no difference to such a huge global problem? If you do, remember these points:
•    Your action and those of your community will be an example and an inspiration to others. It will be like starting a snowball rolling down hill.
•    Every significant advance in modern civilization has been the result of persistence and perseverance by one, or a few, individuals: abolition of slavery, prison reform, universal education, women’s suffrage, human rights, etc etc.
YOU and your community have the power to change the world.

The key strategy is ‘relocalisation’ – horrible word, but descriptive. This means a process of building local sustainability and resilience by producing as many as possible of the essential goods and services within the community and the immediate surrounding area. This not only minimises vulnerability to energy price rises and shortages, but also minimizes carbon dioxide emissions from transport. Several cities in the USA and well over 100 communities worldwide have begun to relocalize. Portland, Oregon, for example, in its Peak Oil consultation report proposes a reduction in oil and gas consumption by 2.6% per year, or 25% by 2020. And in the UK several communities are looking at similar (or more ambitious) ‘energy descent’ targets.

According to the Transitions Initiatives Primer, the Transition Model is based on the following realizations:
•    Climate Change and Peak Oil require urgent action
•    Life with less energy is inevitable and it is better to plan for it than be taken by surprise
•    Industrial society has lost the resilience to be able to cope with energy shocks
•    We have to act together and we have to act now
•    Continued growth of the world economy and consumption is not possible on a finite planet
•    We demonstrated phenomenal levels of ingenuity and intelligence as we raced up the energy growth curve over the last 150 years, and there's no reason why we can't use those qualities, and more, as we negotiate our way down from the peak of the energy mountain.
•    If we plan and act early enough, and use our creativity and cooperation to unleash the genius within our local communities, then we can build a future that could be far more fulfilling and enriching, more connected and more gentle on the earth than the lifestyles we have today.

When faced with very challenging situations, we humans tend to construct emotional and psychological barriers to change. We act like ostriches burying our heads in the sand. The Transitions Initiative names and dismantles the commonest barriers in the guise of “7 Buts”. It then works with 12 key steps to transition. These are not a prescriptive ‘must do’ list, but are guidelines based on experience that can be adapted as necessary to suit the local needs.

In summary, the ‘7 Buts’ are:
•    But we’ve got no funding ...
•    But they won’t let us ...
•    But there are already green groups in this town ...
•    But no-one in this town cares about the environment anyway ...
•    But surely it’s too late to do anything ...?
•    But I don’t have the right qualifications ...
•    But I don’t have the energy for doing that ...

If any of these feel like your reaction, I suggest you look at the Transitions Initiative Primer, available on the website (link above).

Again in summary, the 12 steps of Transition are:
•    Set up a Steering Group and design its demise from the outset.
•    Raise awareness
•    Network with existing groups and activists to make sure the project is inclusive
•    Organise a public event to bring the project into the community at large and build momentum
•    Form working groups covering all aspects of life
•    Use ‘Open Space’ meetings – no agenda, timetable, coordinator or minute-taker
•    Develop visible practical manifestations of the project
•    Organise training in key skills such as repair, cookery, cycle maintenance, house insulation, gardening, etc etc.
•    Build bridges to local government
•    Honour the wisdom of elders who remember the days before plentiful energy
•    Let the process go where it will
•    Create an energy descent plan

Again, if you want more detail, download that Primer!

I hope that’s enough to whet your appetite for local action! There’s lots of experience and advice out there on the web to help you get going. And we can start our own self-help group in “On the Wisdom Trail”.