Transition Leicester was initiated as a local response to two great global challenges: Climate Change and Peak Oil. We see these issues as interlinked, along with many other major challenges to our current way of life, such as the economic crisis, reductions in biodiversity and increasing scarcity of water and other natural resources.
An awareness of climate change gives us a strong motivation to greatly reduce our city’s carbon footprint, so that we can play our part in looking after the future wellbeing of people and the Earth’s ecosystems. An awareness of peak oil makes it clear that we need to prepare for a transition away from fossil fuels in any case, as the availability of oil (then gas, then coal) will be reaching a peak and then declining this century.
A big inspiration for the approach that Transition Town initiatives take to this work is Permaculture, which is a set of ethics and principles for designing sustainable systems, and identifying opportunities for positive change.
We also realise that one of the main things holding back strong action on climate change is the imperative for continuing growth in our economic system. The growth we’ve seen to date has only been possible through ever-increasing energy supplies, and Peak Oil is likely to usher in the end of that era (if it doesn’t collapse of its accord first!).
This makes one of the important goals of our Transition project to explore new systems (and in particular new money-systems) to create truly sustainable economies – where we don’t face the stark choice of unsustainable growth or the hardship that comes from a collapsing economy.
Taken together, for both pragmatic and moral reasons, these issues point towards the need to reduce and eventually eliminate our use of fossil fuels for energy. Starting this transition now will enable us both to reduce Leicester’s carbon emissions and increase the resilience of Leicester’s economy – enabling our city to continue to funcion even if fuel prices increase greatly, or if fossil fuel supplies are interrupted.
It is important to keep in mind that because of Peak Oil, there will be a great transition in our economy and way of life, no matter what we do. The important point as we see it is to start planning now for that transition, so that we can develop the skills and infrastructure we need to make the transition a wonderful experience, rather than a negative one.
Although climate change is often seen as a frightening or threatening idea, we also see it as offering a positive opportunity, as solutions to the problem tend to be ones which enable us to lead happier, healthier and more connected lives.
Energy Bulletin
An outstanding clearing-house for current information on Peak Oil.
David Strahan’s Website
Useful information for Peak Oil beginners and experts alike.
The Oil Drum (europe)
Publishes carefully thought-out articles discussing our energy future.
ASPO, the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas
Authoritative source of Peak Oil information.
PowerSwitch
British site with lots of information and several good primers on the subject.