The Transition Movement is 10 years old

12 December 2016

Transition Network founded

Between late 2006 and early 2007 the Transition Network was founded as a UK charity by British permaculture educator Rob Hopkins to disseminate the concepts of transition towns and train and support people involved with Transition initiatives. .

How it all began  -  From Kinsale to Totnes

In 2004, permaculture designer Rob Hopkins set his students at Kinsale Further Education College the task of applying permaculture principles to the concept of peak oil.  The output of this student project was the ‘Kinsale Energy Descent Action Plan'.

This 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.  Two of his students, Louise Rooney and Catherine Dunne, developed the Transition towns concept.  They then presented their ideas to Kinsale Town Council.  The councillors decided to adopt the plan and work towards energy independence.

Hopkins moved to his hometown of Totnes, England, where he and Naresh Giangrande developed these concepts into the transition model.  In 2006 Transition Town Totnes become the first Transition initiative.

2008 to present day

In 2008 the number of communities involved in the project had increased with many localities in the process of becoming "official" Transition towns.

The initiative spread and by May 2010 there were over 400 community initiatives recognized as official Transition towns in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Italy and Chile.

By September 2013, there were 1130 initiatives registered in 43 countries.

(Information from Wikipedia)