Can't get there from here

In the autumn edition of the Green Party of England and Wales’ magazine, Green World, there was a decent article about how Stroud had become a Transition Town (http://www.greenworld.org.uk/page55/page72/page59/page59.html). The Transition Town movement is helping local communities to focus on methods of reducing their carbon footprint (http://transitiontowns.org/Main/HomePage). Where there’s a will, the Transition Network will help find a way.

The objectives are almost as imprecise as those of sustainable development, but this is still a large chunk of what I want in a sustainable community. I will do what I can to make Shepherd’s Bush a Transition Town. Ask me what I’ve achieved by Spring 2009.

However, in the next edition of Green World, Councillor Rupert Read is keen to point out that “the Transition Towns movement alone cannot save us” because, he says, if some people reduce their use of fossil fuels, the price will not rise as much and others will not be incentivised to change. How depressing.

Now, I’m not saying that I’ve suddenly decided that Transition Towns are the answer to all our problems, but what does Rupert say we need to balance the equation? Legislation. And how do we get legislation to limit the use of fossil fuels? Through the electoral mechanism.

In getting elected to Norwich City Council, Rupert has been far more successful than me in getting green policies implemented, but the pinnacle of Green electoral success, so far in this world, has been as minority partners in a few national governments. The most high profile of those being in Germany. National, and therefore international, democratic politics swings tightly around a conventional centre. Radicalism is never more than a spice that adds a little flavour to an otherwise bland stew.

In other words, legislative change to implement carbon rationing or something similar will always be too little too late. The first World Climate Conference, established in recognition of the phenomenon of global warming, was held in 1979. Even Margaret Thatcher was convinced of the need for radical action after the second conference in 1990. Yet it is 2008 and we are failing to meet the commitment made in Kyoto in 1997.

Communities have to lead by example. Transition Towns can make a difference.