The Transition Model has evolved from the experiences of communities who have been working together to build local resilience and reduce carbon emissions. It comprises a loose set of realworld principles and practices and is being continually refined as more communities adopt it and feedback their experiences.

The fundamental elements which underpin the Transition Model are an awareness 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 and the consumptive patterns within it, as long as 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 peaks of the energy mountain.

(Taken from the Transition Initiatives Primer by Ben Brangwyn and Rob Hopkins)

Recommended reading

The Transition Handbook by Rob Hopkins

Transition in Action - the UK's first comprehensive energy descent action plan designed by Transition Town Totnes

The Art of Rapid Transition - download NEF's new publication on how to thrive in times of crisis

Transition Handbook Discussion Course - fantastic resource produced by Sustainable NE Seattle.

The Transition Timeline by Shaun Chamberlin, see here for Rob Hopkins interview with author

The Transition Guide to Food: Unleashing the growing potential in your community by Tamzin Pinkerton & Rob Hopkins

Resilience - Resurgence article on the Transition Movement

Transition Cakes! - Julia Ponsonbury from Schumacher College has produced a magnificent guide with ideas for making and decorating a centerpiece cake for Transition celebrations.

Games to Save the Planet - Transition Scotland's toolbox of arts-based environmental education activities

Feeding Positive Change - Transition Scotland's guide to cooking good, healthy food for large gatherings

Recommended links

The Transition Network website

Transition Culture - website of Rob Hopkins - the founder of the Transition Network. Contains extensive set of useful links.

Traydio - A set of podcasts about Transition Towns

Youtube - A set of YouTube videos about Transtition Towns

Be inspired! - a selection of Transition Projects

Community Action links

Creative Communities - booklet from the Sustainable Everyday Project available to download

People Powered Change - ‘what is within the hands of people, and is within their power alone to change?’