FAQ

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Locally resilient...what does that mean?

Local resiliency, in this context, is the ability to withstand challenges for our community that are already happening due to economic instability, climate change, and the end of cheap oil. We would like to strengthen our ability to exist on the planet and within our more immediate community. We believe it is unwise to depend on an economy and lifestyle that has lost the diversity of skills and tools necessary for successful adaptation in a post cheap oil/high pollution energy intensive world.

What does that look like, then? What's your vision for Carrboro/Chapel Hill?

It's your vision too! We're not here to dictate. However, if you asked members who are already a part of this initiative, you would probably hear some common themes, such as renewable energy, local food production, strong local businesses, public transportation, supportive/engaged community, waste reduction, water conservation, etc. We all have different areas we're passionate about and want to be directly involved in, and there's room for all of that within a Transition Initiative.

How are you going to find out what the community wants for itself?

It started with a “Great Unleashing”—the big official launch of TCCH to the community on May 15, 2010. It was a combination celebration and group brainstorming session. We used the Open Space format, which is a way to get everyone's thoughts around a subject out in an organized but non-directed way.

Is this part of a larger movement?

Yes! It began in Totnes, England and has been spreading all over the world. The basic idea is that we can be proactive about preparing for future realities, that it can be local and community-based, and that it's a positive undertaking. The Transition Handbook by Rob Hopkins is a great read that will tell you all about it.

You can also check out these websites to see what Transition initiatives are doing in the rest of the world:

Aren't there already lots of other green/environmental groups in town?

Yes. Thank goodness! We're so grateful for everything they've already accomplished and hope to work with many other groups! The Transition Initiative is successful in as much as other groups and individuals are a part of it. The Transition Initiative is not another group but everyone. One of the most useful functions of TCCH can be to take a look at the big picture—see what fits together, what areas still need work, etc. So, as we begin, our work is to ensure we're in touch with everyone. If you have a group/individual in mind that you think we should know, please tell us!

What is this "Great Unleashing"?

The "Great Unleashing" was basically the point at which this whole thing got started. The steering committee did groundwork preparation for building up public awareness of our Transition Initiative, and tried to get key community leaders involved and interested in working together. We held a big gathering open to the public, with a high-level keynote speaker. Then everyone broke out into discussion groups centering around various topics which each individual felt most interested in—and at this point, the brainstorming began. People envisioned a plan for transitioning our communities of Carrboro and Chapel Hill into something different—something resilient, local, community-oriented, environmentally sustainable, and not dependent on an oil-based economy.

What is an Energy Descent Action Plan?

Through the Transition Town process, organizations and individuals with affinities to a section or sector of the community (e.g., health, transportation, energy) will form specific action groups. The action groups will assess Carrboro/Chapel Hill's current vulnerabilities to diminishing energy supplies and requirements for curtailing CO2 emissions as a whole. Then the coalitions will identify sustainable low-energy alternative systems for their sector. For each dimension of life (sector) in Carrboro/Chapel Hill, a realistic timeline will be drawn up for the transition (including a step-by-step action plan). The very first Transition Town—Totnes, England—has already published its EDAP, which is online here.