Energy Descent Plans The Kinsale and Totnes Projects Rob Hopkins Transition Town Totnes * Plymouth University * TransitionCulture.org.

Energy Descent Plans Energy Descent Plans The Kinsale and Totnes The Kinsale and Totnes ProjectsProjects

Rob HopkinsTransition Town Totnes * Plymouth University * TransitionCulture.org

Initial Symptoms of Peak Oil Initial Symptoms of Peak Oil AwarenessAwareness (Post Petroleum Stress (Post Petroleum Stress Disorder)Disorder)

Common Symptoms Include;•Clammy Palms / Nausea

•Mild Palpitations

•A Sense of Bewilderment and Unreality

•An Irrational Grasping at Unfeasible Solutions

•Fear

•Outbreaks of Nihilism / Survivalism.

•Exuberant Optimism.

•“I Always Told You So” Syndrome.

My Own ‘Peak Oil Moment’: My Own ‘Peak Oil Moment’:

September 2004.September 2004.

Indu

stria

l As

cent

(Mod

erni

sm)

Indu

stria

l As

cent

(Mod

erni

sm)

Energy & Resource UseEnergy & Resource Use Population Pollution Pollution

ClimaxClimax(post-modern (post-modern

cultural chaos)cultural chaos)

ClimaxClimax(post-modern (post-modern

cultural chaos)cultural chaos)

Techno-Fantasy

Green-Tech StabilityGreen-Tech StabilityGreen-Tech StabilityGreen-Tech Stability

Earth stewardship

Atlantis

Great Grand Great Grand ChildrenChildren

AgricultureAgriculture10.000yrs BP10.000yrs BP

Industrial Industrial RevolutionRevolution

Baby BoomBaby Boom Old GrowthOld GrowthForest Forest

Pre-industrial sustainable culture

Pre-industrial sustainable culture

Historical Time Future Time

Creative Descent

Creative Descent

( (Permaculture)

Creative Descent

Creative Descent

( (Permaculture)

The Story of the Kinsale The Story of the Kinsale Energy Descent Action PlanEnergy Descent Action Plan

Available to download at

www.transitionculture.org

Step 1. Awareness RaisingStep 1. Awareness Raising

Talks, End of Suburbia Talks, End of Suburbia screenings… screenings…

Step 2. Open Space Step 2. Open Space Community Think TankCommunity Think Tank

Step 3. Engaging Existing Step 3. Engaging Existing Practioners.Practioners.

Step 4. Visioning and Step 4. Visioning and

Backcasting.Backcasting.

Action Plan - layoutAction Plan - layout

•Title (food, waste, etc…)

•The Present

•The Vision

•Practical Steps 2005 – 2021

•Resources

Some Suggestions from Some Suggestions from the Kinsale EDAP…the Kinsale EDAP…

A Natural Health PartnershipA Natural Health Partnership Local economyLocal economy Research on local building Research on local building

materialsmaterials Permaculture courses in Permaculture courses in

schoolsschools Slow Food TownSlow Food Town Looking beyond TourismLooking beyond Tourism Energy IndependenceEnergy Independence

December ‘05 in Kinsale…December ‘05 in Kinsale…

Notice of Motion

This council supports the efforts of the not-for-profit company “Transition Design” in its initiative to act as “Process Leaders” in

Kinsale’s transition to a lower energy future and in developing the concept of a “Transition Town” i.e. a town making the transition from fossil-fuel dependency to a state of energy independence.

Kinsale EDAP – sending Kinsale EDAP – sending up shoots. up shoots.

“Jessica Harrison led a lively discussion outlining the Kinsale Energy Descent Action Plan … a captivated audience participated in discussion on the possibility of such a plan in Bass Coast…”

The South Gippsland Sentinel Times. 22nd August 2006.

Transition Transition Town Town

TotnesTotnes

The Next Step…

Awareness Raising…Awareness Raising…Sept ’05 – Sept ‘06Sept ’05 – Sept ‘06

The Official Unleashing…The Official Unleashing…September ‘06September ‘06

“Maybe they will tell stories about what happened in Totnes. Maybe this evening will be something that is the beginning of one of those stories”.

Dr Chris Johnstone – TTT Unleashing Sept ’06.

Open Space Days.Open Space Days.Food, Energy, Housing. Food, Energy, Housing.

Oral History Oral History Interviews..Interviews..

Learning from Totnes Past.Learning from Totnes Past.1930’s…1930’s…

© Totnes Image Bank

George Heath.George Heath.A Powerdown Pioneer.A Powerdown Pioneer.

© Totnes Image Bank

Visiting Speakers…Visiting Speakers…Sept – Dec ’06.Sept – Dec ’06.

Bob Flowerdew David Fleming

Helena Norberg-HodgeRichard Heinberg

Working with Working with Business.Business.

December ’06. Oil Vulnerability Auditing Workshop with Simon Snowden of Liverpool University

A pilot project in Totnes with three local businesses.

Skilling Up for Skilling Up for Powerdown.Powerdown.A 10 Week Evening Class.A 10 Week Evening Class.

Covers;

Peak Oil / Climate Change, Permaculture Principles, Food, Energy, Building and Housing, Woodlands, Water, Waste, Economics, The Psychology of Change, Energy Descent Planning…

Transition Town TotnesTransition Town TotnesSubgroups….Subgroups….

Up and RunningUp and RunningHeart and Soul – the psychology Heart and Soul – the psychology of change / Medicine and Health / of change / Medicine and Health / Arts / Food / Energy / Economics / Arts / Food / Energy / Economics / Liaison with Local GovernmentLiaison with Local Government

In formation;In formation;Education, Housing.Education, Housing.

Outcomes so Far…Outcomes so Far…(after 4 months).(after 4 months). Solar Water Heater Challenge.Solar Water Heater Challenge. Local Food Directory Local Food Directory The Totnes Renewable Energy The Totnes Renewable Energy

Supply Company (TRESCO)Supply Company (TRESCO) Plantings of high cropping Plantings of high cropping

walnut and sweet chestnut walnut and sweet chestnut varieties within townvarieties within town

‘‘Seedy Sunday’Seedy Sunday’ Workshop with estate Workshop with estate

landowners.landowners.

Other Transition Towns…Other Transition Towns…an idea goes viral…an idea goes viral…

Transition Penwith.Transition Penwith. LewesLewes StroudStroud MoretonhampsteadMoretonhampstead FalmouthFalmouth LampeterLampeter BristolBristol

A Role for the Soil A Role for the Soil Association?Association? Support Transition Town Support Transition Town

food groups?food groups? Develop an Energy Develop an Energy

Descent Plan for food and Descent Plan for food and farming in the UK?farming in the UK?

One Planet Agriculture: One Planet Agriculture: Handbook for Practical Handbook for Practical ActionAction

www.transitionculture.orgwww.transitionculture.org

www.transitiontowns.org/Totneswww.transitiontowns.org/Totnes