The Transition Towns movement began in the mid 2000s and is growing rapidly. It was started by Rob Hopkins in Totnes in response to the realisation that the coming of “peak oil” is likely to leave towns in a desperate situation, and therefore that it is very important that they strive to develop local economic self sufficiency.

Transition towns aim to reduce their carbon footprint and increase their ability to withstand the fundamental shift that will accompany the end of Peak Oil. The challenges presented to us today by global warming and peak oil (and gas) brings a great opportunity for rethinking the way we live and making conscious choices about what kind of community and world we would like to live in. Change is coming whether we like it or not and a planned response to the change will leave us in a much stronger position than if we wait until change is upon us.