Sustainable Dunblane

Transition Towns is a movement that was created by Louise Rooney and popularised by Rob Hopkins. It was founded in Kinsale, Ireland and then spread to Totnes, England by environmentalist Rob Hopkins during 2005 and 2006.  The aim of the project is to equip communities for the dual challenges of climate change and peak oil. The movement currently has member communities in a number of countries worldwide.

The Transition concept emerged from work permaculture designer Rob Hopkins had done with the students of Kinsale Further Education College in writing an "Energy Descent Action Plan". This project looked at across-the-board creative adaptations in the realms of energy production, health, education, economy and agriculture as a ‘road map’ to a sustainable future for the town. One of his students, Louise Rooney, set about developing the Transition Towns concept and presented it to Kinsale Town Council; resulting in the historic decision by Councillors to adopt the plan and work towards energy independence.

The idea was adapted and expanded in September 2006 to Hopkins' hometown of Totnes where he is now based. The initiative spread quickly, and as of November 2009, there were two hundred and forty three communities recognised as official Transition Towns in the United Kingdom, with more in Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Italy and Chile.  While referred to as 'towns', the communities involved range from villages (Kinsale), through council districts (Penwith) to cities and city boroughs (Brixton).

This information is adapted for the Wikipedia entry on Transition Towns.  For further information on Transition Towns, please click here.