THE TRANSITION MODEL – WHAT IS IT?

The Transition Model is a loose set of real world principles and practices that have been built up over time though experimentation and observation of communities as they drive forward to build local resilience and reduce carbon emissions. Underpinning the Transition Model is a recognition of the following:

  • 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.
  • Regarding the world economy, the laws of physics apply, infinite growth within a finite system (such as planet earth) simply isn’t possible.
  • We demonstrated phenomenal levels of ingenuity and intelligence as we raced up the energy 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.