In response to the threats of peak oil and climate change, thousands of people around the world are engaging in local "Transition" initiatives to promote resilience and "reskilling" to prepare for the expected "energy descent."
Transition initiatives are intended to get away from the language of "sustainability" which seeks to sustain existing structures, and instead promote "resilience", or the survival of communities. As Judith Schwartz reports,
"what began five years ago as a student project on lowering energy use in Kinsale, Ireland, has grown to 273 'official' initiatives in 15 countries...The United States now has 55 active Transition initiatives, the latest in San Francisco.
'Transition' is predicated on the assumption that society cannot keep consuming energy and other resources at our current pace and that we're better off accepting this reality and choosing how to adapt rather than letting ourselves get backed into a crisis. The idea is that the adaptation process can harness creative and even joyful possibilities that until now have laid dormant in our towns and cities."
FULL STORY: Stop Hand-Wringing About Peak Oil and Climate Change and Do Something

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

End Human Sacrifices to the Demanding Gods of Automobile Dependency and Sprawl
The U.S. has much higher traffic fatality rates than peer countries due to automobile dependency and sprawl. Better planning can reduce these human sacrifices.

Trump: Federal Government Won’t Pay for California HSR
The President has targeted federal funding for the California bullet train project since his first administration.

San Francisco Enhances Urban Planning Initiatives with Green Infrastructure
San Francisco incorporates green infrastructure in its city development initiatives, elevating the importance of sustainability in urban planning.

Chicago Approves Green Affordable Housing Plan
The Mayor’s plan calls for creating a nonprofit housing corporation tasked with building affordable housing that meets Green Building standards.
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