In his 2008 book, Rob Hopkins argues
that peak oil and climate change are inextricably linked, will have a
massive impact on all aspects of modern life and an outlines how this
'transition' can be used as an opportunity to improve the economy,
our lifestyles, diet, health, and the resilience of local
communities.
The Peak Oil theory sensibly states
that as there is only so much oil available on this planet,
eventually its supply will peak and decline, causing energy costs to
rise. Some people argue that this peak in production has already been
reached. While the date of the peak is debatable, the inevitability of the peak itself is undeniable and the sooner we prepare for rising
energy costs, the better prepared we will be.
'The Transition Handbook' links the
issues of peak oil and climate change as while we continue to depend
on liquid fuels for transportation, synthetic materials and
fertilisers, we will continue to burn fossil fuels and accelerate
climate change. If peak oil is addressed through new fossil reserves
like tar sands or deep sea oil, this will only accelerate climate
change through further carbon emissions. Likewise, the energy
efficiency measures will not address the inevitable decline in energy
supplies. Over emphasis on energy efficiency, say in buildings, could
even make us more exposed to how volatile fuels costs could impact
the price of food , transport and consumer goods.
Hopkins' central premise is that while
adaptation or 'transition' to a post Peak Oil world is inevitable and
its impact will be massive, it should be seen as an opportunity,
rather than a threat. Hopkins blends aspects of grass roots activism,
ecology and permaculture theories, management, economics and
addiction counselling to outline a manifesto for local resilience, a
state in which communities are able to absorb the shocks of volatile
energy costs while prospering both culturally and economically.
Key to post Transition prosperity is
the localisation of lifestyles and economies to include local
production of food, energy and consumer goods, as well as renewed
focus on personal interaction within communities. Rather than dictate
a strict programme how this is to be achieved, 'The Transition
Handbook' describes 12 key principles for Transition Initiatives and
how they have already been applied to diverse areas areas including
Totnes, Lewes, Penwith, Bristol and Brixton.
While 'The Transition Handbook' is not
overtly political, in fact it boasts of Transition Initiatives'
ability to win cross-party support, many of its central themes are
very relevant to the current political agenda. The emphasis on
community self-organisation and DIY government is echoed in David
Cameron's idea of Localism and the 'Big Society'. Likewise, the idea of a locally
written Energy Descent Action Plan, which imagines specific visions
for post Transition living has parallels with the Coalition
Government's plans for open-source planning and locally written
Neighbourhood Plans.
However, where such policies have been
criticised as woolly or impractical, 'The Transition Handbook' offers
hard-won advise on how to turn a group of strangers with a common
interest into an effective and resilient community. Hopkins includes
a number of ideas on how to raise awareness and organise public
events, such as film screenings and Open Space Days, which are all
based on his own research and practical experience. Hopkins also
offers genuine insights into campaigning, marketing and change
management that go beyond the peak oil / climate change argument.
These are based on a combination of experience and convincing
research into parallels between adaptation, change management and
addiction counselling.
So while 'The Transition Handbook'
eloquently introduces the twin issues of Peak Oil and climate change,
the real strength of the book is how it then progresses the argument
with practical, upbeat and most importantly feasible examples of how
the situation can be addressed.
Photo Credits
Image of an Open Space Day event,
courtesy of TransitionUS
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