In response to the twin challenges of peak oil and climate change, a new global network of communities has recently been taking shape. The Transition Towns movement dates back to 2005, when a permaculture teacher named Rob Hopkins was holding a course in the Irish town of Kinsale that involved the development of an Energy Descent Action Plan (EDAP.)
The idea behind an EDAP is that once world oil production peaks, and this is looking likely within five years, its increasing scarcity has the capacity to create shocks in most areas of society. Such a plan can provide a roadmap for communities to make a smoother transition into a post-carbon future.
In the event of any disruption to the mainstream economy caused by oil depletion or perhaps economic factors, the continued supply of essentials such as food and energy is more likely if these are produced locally rather than at a distance.
When looking at shifts towards sustainability, some people feel that while the necessary action is unlikely to be taken by governments or individuals, communities may be up to the challenge. One aspect of the Transition movement is its grassroots orientation, and it has been described as “a social experiment on a massive scale”.
Since the town of Totnes in South-West England decided to become the first Transition Town, {quotes}the network has been steadily expanding and now takes in 159 communities in 11 countries{/quotes}. Of these, 13 are in Australia, including the Sunshine Coast, Armidale, Bellingen and Hervey Bay. The Transition model can equally be applied to villages, cities, city suburbs and regions.
For prospective Transition communities, the first step is to find a few like-minded people keen to form a coordinating team. This group then attempts to enlist the support of existing community organisations while generating local awareness. If there is sufficient groundswell of interest, a town can collectively decide to adopt the Transition framework. Launch events are known in Transition parlance as “unleashings”.
The next stage is to form a number of sub-groups looking at important areas including food, water, energy and health. Under conventional agricultural system, about 10 units of fossil energy are needed to produce one unit of food, and this arrangement is obviously unsustainable. Greener local food options include community gardens and farmers’ markets.
A couple of years ago, Totnes launched its own local note-based currency, and this has been successful in boosting the local economy: other towns are looking at following suit. In response to the global financial crisis, some belt-tightening by the public has taken place, and this new-found frugality fits in well with the Transition ethos. Workshops are re-introducing people to the skills needed to repair items instead of throwing them away.
With a focus on opportunities rather than problems, the Transition network hopes to promote a new way of living that is more connected, vibrant and in touch with the environment than the typical consumer-orientated lifestyle of today. Some older people engaged in Transition activities have compared them to the values that prevailed a few decades ago.
RESOURCES
Transition Towns                                          www.transitiontowns.org
