1 UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO Transition Towns An assessment of the success of Transition Initiatives in New Zealand and around the world Sarah Williamson [Pick the date] 3 Table of Contents Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................... 3 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 History .......................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 Principles ...................................................................................................................................... 5 1.2.1 Peak Oil and Climate Change ................................................................................................ 5 1.2.2 Differences from Conventional Environmentalism ................................................................ 5 1.2.3 The Six Principles .................................................................................................................. 5 1.2.4 Resilience .............................................................................................................................. 5 1.3 The Role of Government .............................................................................................................. 6 1.4 Four Types of Transition Initiatives ............................................................................................... 6 1.5 Vision ........................................................................................................................................... 7 1.6 The Twelve Steps of Transition ..................................................................................................... 7 1.7 The Seven Buts ............................................................................................................................. 8 2. Literature ......................................................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Appraisals ................................................................................................................................... 10 2.1 1 Positive ................................................................................................................................ 10 2.1.2 Grassroots ........................................................................................................................... 10 2.1.3 Holistic ................................................................................................................................ 10 2.1.4 Collectivist Practical Action ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 CRITICISMS ................................................................................................................................. 10 2.2.1 Not Radical Enough ............................................................................................................. 10 2.2.2 Too Prescriptive ................................................................................................................... 11 2.2.3 Limited in reach .................................................................................................................. 12 2.2.4 Limited in Practical Projects ................................................................................................ 12 2.2.5 Internally Conflicted ............................................................................................................ 12 2.3 How to Succeed? ....................................................................................................................... 13 2.3.1 History of Environmental action/community cohesion ....................................................... 13 2.3.2 Cognitive Priming ................................................................................................................ 13 2.3.3 Dedication and experience .................................................................................................. 13 2.3.4 Resources ............................................................................................................................ 13 2.3.5 Organisational Culture ........................................................................................................ 13 4 2.3.6 Focus on Practical Projects .................................................................................................. 13 2.3.7 Recognition and Competition ............................................................................................. 14 2.3.8 City Scale ............................................................................................................................. 14 2.3.9 Some Lessons From The Past .............................................................................................. 14 2.4 TOTNES ...................................................................................................................................... 14 2.4.1 Community: ........................................................................................................................ 14 2.4.2 Government: ....................................................................................................................... 15 2.5 The Gaia University .................................................................................................................... 15 3. NZ POSITION .................................................................................................................................... 15 3.1 General Attitudes ....................................................................................................................... 15 3.2 Policy Support ............................................................................................................................ 15 3.3 Actions ....................................................................................................................................... 16 3.4 New Zealand Transition Towns ................................................................................................... 16 3.4.1 Official Transition Initiatives ................................................................................................ 16 3.4.2 Mullers ................................................................................................................................ 17 3.4.3 Place of Interest: Christchurch ............................................................................................ 17 3.4.4 More ................................................................................................................................... 18 3.4.5 Comments ........................................................................................................................... 19 4. Results (Survey) ............................................................................................................................... 19 4.1 Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 19 4.2 Results ........................................................................................................................................ 19 4.2.1 NZ ........................................................................................................................................ 19 4.2.2 Rest of World ...................................................................................................................... 24 4.3 Discussion .................................................................................................................................. 28 Peak Oil and Climate Change Awareness ..................................................................................... 28 Activities ...................................................................................................................................... 29 Personal information ................................................................................................................... 29 Thoughts ...................................................................................................................................... 30 5. Conclusions ...................................................................................................................................... 35 5.1 Attracting The Mainstream ........................................................................................................ 35 5.2 The Power of the Media ............................................................................................................. 36 5.3 Dedicated People ....................................................................................................................... 36 5.4 Role of Government ................................................................................................................... 36 5.5 Scale ........................................................................................................................................... 36 5 5.6 New Zealand Position ................................................................................................................