This project was conducted by Rachel Greer, a graduate research intern at Maastricht University (Netherlands) in the International Centre for Integrated assessment and Sustainable development, as part of the a project called ENERGISE. It is an innovative pan-European research initiative created to achieve a greater scientific understanding of the social and cultural influences on energy consumption. Funded under the EU Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program for three years (2016-2019), ENERGISE develops, tests, and assesses options for a bottom-up transformation of energy use in households and communities across Europe. A comprehensive review and classification of household and community energy initiatives from 30 European countries provides the foundation for the development of two Living Labs designed to capture influences on individual and collective energy consumption. My role in the project was to collect and manage all data for Spain. In doing so, I catalogued 41 case studies of sustainable energy consumption initiatives, including information on organization type, funding, target of reduction, and evaluation. From this broader collection of cases, I selected the Transition movement as a category meriting further study of the quantitative assessment of efforts.
Both the European Union and member states such as Spain have set goals for the next years to reduce their total greenhouse gas (GHG) emission levels. A combination of technological and social innovations, including both large infrastructural and small community-led movements, can contribute. Many models have been developed to assess the impact of large-scale and technological projects, but such research on grassroots (bottom-up) movements is more scarce. Therefore, I conducted an in-depth analysis to assess the impact of Transition Towns (TTs) in a novel, quantitative way. My study sought to understand what changes are happening within TTs, what their current impact is, and what their potential for diffusion could imply. Through a combination of on-site interviews and mathematical calculations, the greenhouse gas emissions avoided through Transition programs were assessed. Many Spanish Transition Towns are very young and small, so the impact on a local level was not high. However, if extrapolated to nationwide participation in the Transition movement, it could lower annual Spanish emissions by 4%.
As the first study of its kind, often precise numerical raw data was not available, even after personal interviews with Transition group members. This meant that many estimations and assumptions were necessary to complete the self-made equations. However, it should be a good building point for the next researcher interested in assessing the (lowering of the) environmental footprint of Transition Towns. Additionally, it can serve as a point of comparison for the future. As the Transition Towns continue to grow and develop, so will their projects and positive impacts. Therefore, a follow-up study could be conducted in 5-10 years to show the potential development and positive change.
Both the European Union and member states such as Spain have set goals for the next years to reduce their total greenhouse gas (GHG) emission levels. A combination of technological and social innovations, including both large infrastructural and small community-led movements, can contribute. Many models have been developed to assess the impact of large-scale and technological projects, but such research on grassroots (bottom-up) movements is more scarce. Therefore, I conducted an in-depth analysis to assess the impact of Transition Towns (TTs) in a novel, quantitative way. My study sought to understand what changes are happening within TTs, what their current impact is, and what their potential for diffusion could imply. Through a combination of on-site interviews and mathematical calculations, the greenhouse gas emissions avoided through Transition programs were assessed. Many Spanish Transition Towns are very young and small, so the impact on a local level was not high. However, if extrapolated to nationwide participation in the Transition movement, it could lower annual Spanish emissions by 4%.
As the first study of its kind, often precise numerical raw data was not available, even after personal interviews with Transition group members. This meant that many estimations and assumptions were necessary to complete the self-made equations. However, it should be a good building point for the next researcher interested in assessing the (lowering of the) environmental footprint of Transition Towns. Additionally, it can serve as a point of comparison for the future. As the Transition Towns continue to grow and develop, so will their projects and positive impacts. Therefore, a follow-up study could be conducted in 5-10 years to show the potential development and positive change.
