Why do we need to transition?


Liverpool, 2051 - After the ice-caps melted

Life in Liverpool today is very energy dependent. We need energy to heat our homes and businesses, to travel to work, school and to the shops everyday. But our energy dependence doesn't stop there. The goods that we buy such as clothes, furniture, cds, computers, books, food, are increasingly produced abroad, meaning that even eating a salad for lunch can demand high levels of energy usage.

Some people might be tempted to say, 'well, I can afford to pay higher electricity bills, higher prices for my goods, or spend more money on petrol.'

Well, there are two big reasons why this attitude needs to change:

  • Climate Change is taking place, and the more energy we use, the bigger the scale of destruction to our planet. We need to move to a way of life that emits less dangerous greenhouse gasses or we are in danger, literally, of making the planet unliveable for our children and grandchildren. If we make the necessary changes over the next 10 years - ie starting NOW - we can avoid the worst.
  • Peak Oil is something which economists, scientists and governments such as the US, France and Germany acknowledge and are beginning to get ready for. Peak Oil does NOT mean that all of the oil will run out very soon - it means that existing oil fields will reach a peak of production, after which their rate of production will being a steep decline. This will result in huge increases in price, and reductions in oil availability. Even though the price of oil has fallen significantly from its 2007 peak, or if new supplies are found, or we turn coal into fuel, climate change means the planet cannot absorb the carbon we are releasing into the atmosphere. We need to find new, low carbon ways of doing things. Click here for a list of goods made from oil.

June 14 2007

Transitioning recognises that climate change and peak oil are a 'double whammy' that mean change is inevitable over the coming few years. The difference between us and others is that we don't put our head in the sand and hope the problem will go away, trust unconditionally that some technological fix will 'turn up', or blame others. We believe that enjoyable, fun, rich livelihoods are possible in a post-carbon world, if we start building it now.

What this means for Liverpool is:

- producing more of the goods, services and food that we need locally, rather than flying it in from wherever in the world it is the cheapest.

- supporting local businesses rather than multinationals that suck the money out of Liverpool. Local businesses are more likely to stick around when the going gets tough, and will spend the money they earn locally as well.

- supporting public transport, walking and cycling, so we don't need to use the car.

- rejecting the extension of Liverpool Airport or a new cross Mersey bridge.

- generating power locally through tidal, solar and windmills. There should be a huge investment in decentralised, non carbon power and in energy efficiency for both home and busineses, and home insulation

- greening the city as much as possible, and growing food in the new green spaces.

All this needs to be pulled together in an 'Energy Descent Plan' that we will be drawing up over the next six months. How serious a contribution to Liverpool's future it will be depends on who gets involved. We don't want a propaganda document, a bit of cozy PR, or something that gathers dust.

We believe in positive changes built from below, in partnership with everyone who wants to get involved - we are not party political, and work closely with other environmental campaign groups who share our views.

Its a massive job, but so was ending slavery, defeating cholera by putting in the drains and sewerage systems, putting in electric lights and gas distribution, or winning World War Two. We face the same challenge now.

Some people say we are all doomed anyway - that's just not true. If we do nothing, then we face potential global warming of 5-7 degrees c, which would be catastrophic.

But if we cut emissions now, and deeply, and create the sort of world we have often all wanted, then we could limit change to 2 degrees c. It will mean major changes in how we live our lives, but we can do it.

Come and get involved!!!!!