Transcript North Sea - Transition Town West Kirby

Towards a resilient local economy
www.transitiontownwestkirby.org.uk
www.transitiontownwestkirby.blogspot.com
1
A Transition Town is a
community preparing itself
for the inevitable changes
brought about by climate
change and the end of cheap
oil (peak oil).
World will struggle to meet oil demand
Output from the world’s oilfields is declining faster than
previously thought, the first public study of the biggest fields
shows.
Without extra investment to raise production, the natural rate
of output decline is 9.1 per cent, the International Energy
Agency says in its World Energy Outlook, a draft of which has
been obtained by the FT.
The findings suggest the world will struggle to produce enough
oil to make up for steep declines in existing fields, such as those
in the North Sea, Russia and Alaska, and meet long-term
demand. The effort will become even more acute as prices
fall and investment decisions are delayed.
Our choice…
• We’ll be transitioning to a lower energy future
whether we want to or not. Far better to ride that
wave rather than getting engulfed by it.
Going down….
FTSE 100
Going up…..
The mainstream view….
• Current difficulties represent a
“slowdown”
• The economy is “fundamentally
sound”
• Globalisation is irreversible
• “The Government’s assessment is that
the world’s oil resources are sufficient to
prevent global oil production peaking
in the foreseeable future.”
“Expansion becomes impossible
without abundant cheap energy so
I think the debt of the world is
going bad. That speaks of a
financial crisis unseen.”
Colin Campbell, President,
Association for the study of peak oil
and gas (2006)
The Transition view….
• Peak oil is now (+/- 2 years)
• Climate change is accelerating
• Both require a fundamental
redrawing of our society and our
economy
• Localisation is inevitable
• A life with less oil can be
preferable
What can individuals do?
Get to know your community
“Get thee to the non-discretionary side
of the economy”
Transition initiatives…..
Reskilling
Transition in Action
Working Groups Formation Day
Saturday, November 29th 2pm, URC
14
Somerset County Council…
…”seeks to become the first
Transition Authority in the UK.
Agrees to undertake a review of its
budgets and services to achieve a
reduction in dependence on fuel oil
and produce an energy descent
action plan in line with the principles
of the Transition Initiative. “
July 2008
15
What about West Kirby/Hoylake….
• Redevelopment of the Concourse,
Health Centre, Fire Station and
Concourse car park, including a new
supermarket and multi-storey car park.
• Golf resort plan for the land between
West Kirby and Hoylake.
• Redevelopment of the Sailing School
building, including 4-5 storey hotel on the
Dee Lane car park site.
Transition vision
17
“…localisation stands,
at best, at the limits
of practical
possibility, but it
has the decisive
argument in its
favour that there
will be no
alternative”
David Fleming