Transition town

Jun 29 2012 by Kenneth Speirs, Paisley Daily Express

GREEN campaigners have launched a plan which they hope will secure Paisley’s long-term future.

The volunteers say provisions must be made for the depletion of fossil fuels and climate change.

And they have now come up with their Energy Descent Action Plan (EDAP) which was finalised after a series of public consultation meetings in a bid to gain people’s ideas for a greener, more sustainable lifestyle.

The group – called Paisley Transition Town (PTT) – insist people’s lives are going to change hugely in the coming years as oil becomes so scarce and expensive that most people will be unable to use it.

PTT spokesperson Chris Johnstone said: “We are so dependent on oil that our lives will change beyond recognition and in addition climate change will drastically affect our lives as well.

“This twin threat should be faced up to immediately and the EDAP highlights the way for local people to take action now to mitigate these changes in the future.”

The action plan looks at the history of Renfrewshire, how it has dealt with changes in the past and what it can do now to deal with impending changes to our lives.

Learning how to be less dependent on oil based heating and electricity is paramount, through the promotion and use of green energy sources, the plan outlines.

Living more locally, producing our own food locally, simplifying our lives and using more public transport are important changes which will reduce the impact of peak oil and climate change, PTT said.

Other green solutions include better insulated houses, solar panels, travelling by bicycle and recycling everything via websites and public sites.

PTT claims that if Renfrewshire was to adapt all these changes it would make a big difference.