Transition Scotland
Submission to the Smith Commission
31 October 2014

Introduction to Transition communities in Scotland

‘Transition’ is an idea, an open source model for community transformation, an
idea that can catalyse community action and empowerment within communities 
at a local scale whilst enabling initiatives to connect and link across the world. The 
transition is from a dependency on high energy inputs and fossil fuels, with local 
areas unprepared for future shocks; to a low energy future in which communities 
have greater resilience and ability to adapt to change. Whilst recognizing the 
urgency of the need for this transition, transition initiatives also focus on positive 
benefits. They aim to create happier, healthier communities in which alternative 
economies create and maintain wealth and wellbeing within environmental limits. 
These ideas chime with more established notions of community development, but 
provide the impetus and resources to facilitate action from within communities 
rather than waiting for external agencies to ‘do’ development from outside. 
The concept of Transition was born in the early 2000s, with Transition Totnes in 
England offering the first established example of an initiative in 2006. Since then 
hundreds of initiatives have been born, with international examples seen across 
global north and south. In Scotland, thousands of people have been involved in 
Transition initiatives already. These initiatives link formally and informally, with 
Transition Scotland (http://www.transitionscotland.org ) comprising a network to 
assist people to communicate and share experiences and resources. Examples of 
Transition in Scotland can be seen on this Transition Scotland site. The Transition 
Network (https://www.transitionnetwork.org ) offers additional resources for the UK 
and international community. 

Transition Scotland represents one of the strongest community movements within
Scotland, such that it is recognised by the Scottish Government as being a potential 
model for community sustainability action1

questions norms and assumptions about how our society should function, and seeks
to create and stimulate a positive future in which Scots can flourish individually and 
collectively within Scotland and as part of the wider world. For this reason, we feel 
that it is important that Transition Scotland be recognised as a contributor within the 
debates about the future of Scotland, within the UK and more widely. 

Transition Scotland principles

Transition principles are interpreted differently in each initiative, but they include:
For example, on application forms to the Scottish Government Climate Challenge Fund, type of 
initiative question includes “Transition” as an option.

. The network of community initiatives

• a concern that high energy, fossil fuel economic growth is unviable,
exacerbates social inequalities and causes environmental destruction

• a desire to see local communities increase resilience through local action;
strengthening local capacity to respond to change and to pursue democracy 

• a vision for a better future developed in partnership with other organisations

Assessment of the current situation

Members of Transition initiatives hold a range of political views and Transition
Scotland is neutral with regard to support of any political party. Our assessment 
of the current situation, informed by our principles, is that the pursuit of a better 
future in Scotland is impeded by a lack of democratic voice and lack of ability to 
control aspects such as energy at a local level. 

Suggestions in relation to devolution

In line with our principles, we would in general support maximal devolution. We
would like to see the positive energy of the debate over Scotland’s future harnessed 
in current and future community action. We would like to see the commitment of 
the youth of Scotland honoured in continued voting powers. We would like to see 
people empowered to determine and create resilience at a local level. We would like 
to see energy and defence devolved to enable people to determine and act on their 
Financial implications are usually costed in the short term, but the costs of 
climate change in the long term have been calculated to be much greater than 
not mitigating climate change immediately. Hence we would request, firstly, that 
financial implications of any devolution be costed over the long term (100 year plus). 
Secondly, financial implications are often presented as financial loss to particular 
industry sectors. We would thus request also that ‘costs’ be interpreted widely 
to include influences on society and on the environment. Thirdly, we would ask 
that costs of devolving or not devolving particular powers also be calculated with 
a view to equality, such that particular sectors of the population are not further 
disadvantaged by decisions made.

Communities are not homogeneous entities and detailed views will not be shared by
all members of all Transition initiatives in Scotland. We have thus tried to represent 
a broad perspective aligned with our principles. 

This response was developed after discussion at the Transition Roadshow in St
Andrews, then sent out for comment and revised accordingly. However, the timeline 
for this response has precluded wide debate and development of consensus within 
Transition Scotland. We thus ask that further participation be enabled, in a way 
that empowers people within communities to create and buy into future change. 
Transition Scotland considers that through the members of Transition in Scotland 
and beyond, it has a relevant voice to contribute to this debate.