Transition Cornwall Network

Thinking Local acting Global

 

The two challenges: Climate Change and Peak Oil

 

We live in tumultuous times. The spectre of climate change has quickly become a reality across the globe, with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (composed of 2,500 experts on the area) saying that ‘most, if not all, of the current planetary warming has been created by human-beings’ and that we need to cut emissions ‘by 60 – 80%’ just to stabilise global warming. Adding to this, there are already facts-on-the-ground which should be a stark reminder of what our addiction to fossil-fuels has done. Arctic sea ice has seen an average decline in thickness of 40%, which in turn causing sea levels to rise dramatically; the 10 warmest years on record have occurred since 1997;  if we have an increase in the global average temperature of one degree Celsius, which now seems inevitable, we will see Kilimanjaro bereft of ice, and the collapse of the Great Barrier Reef (the most biologically diverse area in the ocean); if green house gas emissions continue to grow at present rates, global temperature could rise as much as 7 °C above pre-industrial temperature by 2100; add to this the fact that the earth is in the ‘6th great extinction of species’ (the extinction of the dinosaurs being one), due to destruction of natural habitats, hunting, the spread of alien predators and disease, and climate change. Unfortunately, the list of bleak news goes on, and on.

 

There is, moreover, going to be a decline in cheap and easily available oil and gas supplies, to add to the volatile climates which global warming will bring.

Peak oil describes the point at which the amount of oil produced globally in a single

year reaches its absolute maximum. From this point onwards, oil will still be produced but at a lesser volume, with increasing global demand. This will make oil not only considerably more expensive in the coming years, but will likely lead to oil famines across the globe. One must consider rising economies likeChina,IndiaandBrazil– desiring our luxuries - to understand just how in demand oil shall be and just how expensive the little oil left will be to buy. Most experts believe we have reached the peak, and oil will now become considerably more expensive, putting it out of the reach of average citizens. As this happens, the logic of our way of living will require a profound transformation. Especially when we consider that oil is used in a vast number of things: petrol fuel, diesel fuel, pesticides, fertilizers, dyes, aspirin, toothpaste, tyres, asphalt (for roads) and pretty much anything made from plastic. Our modern civilisations have been built using fossil-fuels such as coal, gas and oil, and they’re fasting running out in a market-place which is demanding far more. Making the situation worse, is the fact that there is no commercially viable alternative to oil: nothing to power all the transport, or provide energy for houses on the scale we need now. It’s worth pondering, for one second, on what would happen to our lives if oil and gas quickly became very expensive or even stopped being distributed. I’m not sure our everyday lives would function particularly smoothly; and in any case, to keep burning fossil fuels, now, would only precipitate wide-spread global warming.

 

It is true that both global warming and peak oil need to be addressed now to mitigate their potentially catastrophic effects. We need, very quickly, to develop a way of living which is conscience of living on a planet with finite resources and a delicate ecological balance. Our work options, our cultural habits, travelling, consuming, going abroad and eating food transported thousand of miles will, no doubt, have to change. But this transformation should not be seen with fear or trepidation. It can, if we choose, be a change that will be creative, enjoyable and develop a way of living which is more nourishing - both socially and environmentally. And this will be achieved, of course, with the help of the Government and technology; however, it will, most crucially, be achieved by changing the way that we view our communities – by thinking and acting locally. From energy, to food, to work, to transport, to holidays, they will all be compelled to turn local due the imposition of climate change and depletion of energy sources.

 

 

 

 

 

Why local is inevitable?

 

In 2005, Rob Hopkins started theTransitionTownmovement in Totnes. After six years in action, there are well over 200 Transition Boroughs, Towns, Villages, or Hamlets in theUK. To use the movements own words, theTransitionTownmovement ‘supports community-led responses to climate change and shrinking supplies of cheap energy, building resilience and happiness’. In light of my awareness of this movement, a group of villagers, over the summer, have met to discuss what Lanlivery could do to reduce its dependence on fossil-fuels, and make itself more self-sufficient as a community.  Key to these discussions was the concept of ‘resilience’: making a community with-stand shocks from the outside. In our current world, much of our food, for example, is transported across the globe using complex supply-chains. As oil becomes more expensive this food will increase in price, and the likelihood of that food reaching the supermarkets will dramatically decrease with the increased demand for the oil that’s needed in the food production process. (Think of the oil based pesticided, the natural gas based fertilisers, the lorries, the ships, the planes, the packaging and the refrigeration needed before a majority of produce reaches the shelves). This would leave our, predominantly supermarket reliant communities, at tremendous risk and non-resilient. In contrast, if we re-localise the production of many items - seasonal fruit and vegetables, fresh fish, timber, mushrooms, dyes, many medicines, furniture, ceramics, insulation materials, soap, bread, dairy products, wool and leather products, paper building materials, perfumes and fresh flowers - we are not completely at the mercy of rising energy bills, or food prices, it’s cheaper, the food is more nutritious, it helps the planet, it brings people together, and, most importantly, we become more resilient in a fast-changing world. To put it another way, if we use a cake analogy: before World War 2 we would have produced the sponge of the cake and imported the small luxuries which would be the topping on the cake. Now, however, we import the sponge (the main body of the cake) and produce only the topping of the cake. The former is resilient and the latter, our current way of life, is non-resilient. This has got to change.

 

It might surprise many to know that the food system is a significant contributor to climate change. A typicalUKfamily of four would, each year, emit 4.2 tonnes of CO2 from their house, 4.4 tonnes from their car, and 8 tonnes from the production, processing, packaging and distribution of the food they eat. In line with this, according to a July 2008 government report, the transportation of food alone accounts for a third of the 20.6 million tonnes of oil used in theUKfood-chain each year. To put it another way, eight to ten calories of fossil fuels are needed for every calorie of food we eat. As a consequence of these stark facts, in our discussions in Lanlivery we have largely decided to focus on greater food production locally. This will be achieved by exchanging knowledge, tips and labour, by setting up a community allotment and by having a website which will allow those with produce to make others aware that they have produce which will then help coordinate the buying and exchanging of produce. If developed over the years, there will be a lesser need for villagers to go to the supermarkets to buy seasonal fruit and veg’, it will be right there, in the village. No oil based pesticides, or transportation thousands of miles, or packaging, or refrigeration. Just organic food produced locally. I dare say that for those reading this that are from an older persuasion (I’m walking on eggs shells here), this will be nothing alien, because it was how most communities conducted themselves during and before WW2. We are lucky in Lanlivery and Luxuylan to have vibrant local communities which already grow and swap local produce and get together for community events, so all that the Transition movement would be doing is building on those rigid foundations.

 

 

 

 

Yes, we live in tumultuous times. But in the midst of a recession, climate change and rising energy prices, a space can, and will, be created to re-imagine how we function as communities and towards nature. For many at the moment, there are few financially secure areas of life: people are constantly worrying about food prices, energy bills, and whether their money is secure in the bank. By growing our own food or collectively investing in renewable energy, we save money and we gain invaluable knowledge: it’s an investment in uncertain times. What theTransitionTownmovement is suggesting, is that we look at the space around us and ask: what can we do with this space to become self-sufficient and less dependent on fossil-fuels? If Transition Lanlivery has learnt anything so far, it’s that when a dialogue and discussion has been opened between neighbours, the process of moving away from fossil-fuel dependence is not tiresome or frustrating, but easy and enriching for all those involved. Ideas literally begin to flow, as demonstrated by our first meeting. If we begin a dialogue between villagers and between villages, we will build communities which are even more socially cohesive, more environmentally friendly, and more sustainable. And that’s better for everyone!

 

 

 

For those who are interested in getting involved in Transition Lanlivery, or transitioning away from fossil-fuel dependence, or even any of the ideas/issues raised in this article, we’d love to here from you: pasquaver@hotmail.com