1. New Thinking, New Tools Think globally, act locally
The Transition Network is an international organization
Transition Initiatives inspire communities to
come together to explore practical action steps
that aims to inspire, encourage, network, support and train
communities, including existing groups and initiatives, in Can you imagine
exploring the transition from oil dependency to relocalized
for rebuilding local resilience and reducing
carbon emissions.
economies.
Since the “unleashing” of Transition Town Totnes in
life beyond oil?
2006, the concept has quickly spread through the UK,
Australia, Japan, and other locations around the world.
Resilience is the ability to flex and adapt in the Transition Initiatives make no claim to have all the answers,
face of change. It refers to the capacity of our but by building on the wisdom of the past and accessing
the pool of ingenuity, skills and determination in our com-
businesses, communities, and settlements to
munities, we believe the solutions will emerge.
deal with outside shocks, whether from fuel By thinking and acting together, the transition to a way
price volatility or food shortages. Transition of living that consumes substantially less carbon energy—
initiatives strive to build resilience across a yet is a happier, more fulfilling and abundant place—will
become much more achievable.
wide range of areas (food, economics, water,
energy, etc.) Transition Network (international)
Read the “Transition Primer” free online.
www.TransitionTowns.org
Work in these areas eventually forms the
backbone of a locally-designed Energy Descent Transition United States
Action Plan. This timetabled roadmap will offers live training events in Transition ideas
www.TransitionUS.org
define the steps leading
towards a life that has
minimal reliance on fossil Transition in Los Angeles
fuels and dramatically Transition in the vast Los Angeles basin is happening via a
lower carbon emis- network of local pods. Some of these local pods are orga-
sions, a life that profits nized within geographic neighborhoods; others have been
from the abundance founded around already-existing gathering points within
the community such as community gardens, churches, or
of resources and Permaculture groups. Local activities include awareness
capabilities within raising, holding reskilling classes, creating physical projects,
our communities. and forming working groups.
Would you like to have transition activities in
your local neighborhood? Transition Los Angeles
offers a city hub for activities and events in the
greater Los Angeles area. We can help you find
like-minded people and get started.
guiding our communities from
www.TransitionLA.org oil dependency to local resilience
TransitionLA@gmail.com
2. The Challenges First Steps to Transition
The toughest challenge
facing humankind at the
b Raise awareness Here’s how
Films, events and talks can alert to start a Transition
start of the 21st century the community to the potential
is climate change and effects of both Peak Oil and initiative in your
peak oil combined. While Climate Change. While climate local area...
climate change is well change calls for a reduction in
documented and quite carbon emissions, peak oil demands
that we increase community resilience.
visible in the media, there
is much less public aware-
b Establish a core team Solar cooking
ness of Peak Oil. Gather some like-minded people to drive the project
forward during the initial phases.
Peak Oil is the understanding that the world’s supply b Build connections
b Facilitate the “Great Reskilling” Network with existing complementary groups. When
of fossil fuels is finite, and that we are currently dipping
Offer training in the vast range of practical skills the time is right, build a bridge to local government.
into the second half of that planetary supply. The brief Rather than duplicating their work, you’re requesting
which we have lost over the past 40 years—skills like
Age of Cheap Oil has come to its inevitable end. their input in a new way of looking at the future.
food production and preservation, repairing, water
harvesting, construction with local materials, growing
The end of cheap oil will soon have a severe impact local economies, etc. b Eventually your team will...
on our lifestyles. Oil is deeply embedded in our ways Tap into the collective genius of your community. Set
of living, from transportation and food production to b Create physical projects up working groups to focus on all key aspects of local
which grow the resilience of your community. These life such as: energy, food, water, building, transport,
consumer products. We are fed, clothed and warmed
might be productive tree plantings, solar panels, or a business, education, health, psychology, waste. After
not by the produce of the land around us, but by food, about a year, you’ll be ready to develop an Energy
beautiful cob structure. Demonstrate that something
goods, and fuel transported hundreds and thousands of Descent Action Plan, and the task of transitioning to
is happening.
miles—a system which is entirely dependent on supplies a life beyond oil begins...
of cheap oil.
The full “12 Steps of Transition” are online at the
Tree planting “Transition Primer” www.TransitionTowns.org
The impact that burning fossil fuels has on our climate
has become obvious. And yet, decreased fossil fuel avail-
ability may well prevent the economic and social stabil-
ity that is essential if we are to mitigate the threats posed
by climate change.
The future with less oil could
Transition Initiatives currently represent one of the most be better than the present,
promising ways of engaging people and communities but only if we engage in
in strengthening themselves against the effects of these designing this Transition with
two monumental challenges. Furthermore, these efforts
creativity and imagination.
can be designed to result in a life that is more fulfilling, Bread baking
—Rob Hopkins, founder of the Local food
socially connected, and resilient. Transition Towns movement