“We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about.” - Charles Kingsley



TEQs (Tradable Energy Quotas)

Dark Optimism's work in this area revolves around developing the TEQs model, promoting the scheme and working with Government to move it towards implementation.

Key partners

Shaun has been working closely with Dr. David Fleming, creator of TEQs and director of The Lean Economy Connection, since 2006.



Project developments

date title details
24.07.2008 Sheila McKechnie Awards Shaun shortlisted for the 2008 Sheila McKechnie Environmental Campaigner Award due to his work on TEQs.
16.07.2008 Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) The IPPR release the results of their research (parallelling DEFRA's research) into the public acceptability of TEQs, supporting our own earlier conclusions.
13.06.2008 Transition Towns Rob Hopkins interviews David Fleming for his Transition Culture website, and states that "pressure should be coming from the community level up for (energy) rationing".
26.05.2008 Environmental Audit Committee report The Government Environmental Audit Committee release their report into personal carbon trading, agreeing with our opinion that DEFRA is mistaken to delay a full feasibility study of the subject. Full details here.
13.05.2008 All Party Parliamentary Groups Presentation on TEQs to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Peak Oil and Gas and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Climate Change.
09.05.2008 The Lean Economy Connection official response David Fleming and I release the Lean Economy Connection's official response to the DEFRA study, highlighting the shortcomings of the methodology and arguing that delay is ill-advised in the absence of other realistic and effective means for addressing climate change and fuel depletion.
08.05.2008 DEFRA pre-feasibility study into TEQs released DEFRA release their pre-feasibility study into TEQs, which contains much useful research. Unfortunately they also decide not to press ahead immediately with a full feasibility study.
12.12.2007 Climate Code Red Edited the carbon rationing section of the Climate Code Red report produced by the Carbon Equity group in Australia.
13.11.2007 Climate Change - The Solutions Organised "Climate Change - The Solutions" event in conjunction with the World Development Movement.
24.09.2007 Third edition of booklet Third edition of David Fleming's "Energy and the Common Purpose" booklet on TEQs released, edited by Shaun.
18.07.2007 Zero Carbon Britain The Centre for Alternative Technology and the Public Interest Research Centre launch their Zero Carbon Britain report at Parliament. The report details how Britain could become carbon neutral by 2027 and is built around TEQs.
10.07.2007 DEFRA Advisory Panel Shaun invited onto DEFRA's Personal Carbon Allowances Advisory Group, to review progress in their ongoing 'pre-feasibility study' research programme.
25.06.2007 DEFRA Personal Carbon Allowances Feasibility Workshop DEFRA hold a Personal Carbon Allowances Feasibility workshop, looking at what further research is required before a possible future implementation.
11.06.2007 De Montfort University Funding secured for research partnership with De Montfort University. Work to begin in 2008.
14.03.2007 New TEQs website New TEQs website 'soft launched' in collaboration with The Lean Economy Connection.
29.01.2007 Second edition of booklet Second edition of David Fleming's "Energy and the Common Purpose" booklet on TEQs released, edited by Shaun.
12.11.2006 Schumacher College Shaun attends David Fleming's course on TEQs at Schumacher College
22.09.2006 First contact First contact between David Fleming and Shaun re: TEQs




Transition Timeline

Shaun is managing this project for the Transition Towns movement. It has been requested by local Transition initiatives in order to provide them with a sense of context within which to develop their local 'Energy Descent Action Plans'.

Key partners

The team of contributors for this project includes:

Rob Hopkins and Ben Brangwyn (Transition Towns),
Peter Lipman (Sustrans),
Chris Vernon (The Oil Drum: Europe),
Tim Helweg-Larsen (Zero Carbon Britain / Public Interest Research Centre),
Paul Allen (Centre for Alternative Technology),
Patrick Holden (Soil Association),
David Fleming (The Lean Economy Connection),
David Strahan (Journalist and author),
Jonathan Essex (Bioregional),
Richard Heinberg (Peak Oil educator),
Jeremy Leggett (Solar Century),
Doly Garcia (Limits To Growth computer modeller),
Ruth Potts/Andrew Simms (new economics foundation),
Caroline Lucas (Green Party).



Project developments

date title details
22.05.2008 Online version launched Due to around 60 new individuals wishing to contribute to the development of the project, the draft Timeline document is added to Google Documents, a service which allows invited collaborators to access the latest version of the document at any time. A forum is also set up for the project on the Transition Towns website.
12.04.2008 Transition Conference Presentation on progress so far to the second annual conference of the Transition movement. Much enthusiasm for the concept and desire to help push the project forward.
25.11.2007 Scoping meeting Scoping meeting in Bristol with thirteen of the project contributors listed above.
20.11.2007 First discussion Initial discussion in Totnes with key members of the Transition Towns network to discuss project outline.




Transition Town Kingston (TTK)

Shaun is a founder member of the Transition Town Kingston Steering Group. TTK exists to mobilise and facilitate community action in Kingston to respond effectively and positively to climate change and peak oil, and operates according to these governing principles.

Key partners

The Kingston community, including the other seven members of the TTK Steering Group.



Project developments

date title details
08.08.2008 Kingston Informer article Feature article on page 2 of the Kingston Informer.
03.07.2008 Green Guardian Award nomination TTK nominated for the Green Guardian's 'Green project or Group' Award.
09.06.2008 End of Suburbia film screening TTK's first public event with around 30 attendees.
02.06.2008 TTK Steering Group created Inaugural meeting of the TTK Steering Group.
29.05.2008 Kingston Green Radio Five TTK members attend a studio interview for Kingston Green Radio.
26.05.2008 Geodesic dome at Green Fair TTK had a base at the Kingston Green Fair, along with the local permaculture group, to raise local awareness.
21.04.2008 First TTK meeting First informal meeting of Kingston residents interested in starting a Transition Town.




Superstruct

More information about this project and Dark Optimism's involvement will be posted here as it is released.

Key partners

Jane McGonigal and Jamais Cascio of the Institute for the Future (IFTF).



Project developments

date title details
22.08.2008 First videos released The first video relating to each Superthreat is released on the Superstruct website.
08.08.2008 Facebook group launched Facebook group launched by people eager to get playing.
11.08.2008 Shaun to be Power Struggle game master It is announced that Shaun will be the game master for the Power Struggle Superthreat.
08.08.2008 Game website launched www.superstructgame.org teaser page online.
11.07.2008 Further details announced More details of the game are released.
10.07.2008 First information on Superstruct released Jamais Cascio of the Institute for the Future (IFTF) releases the first information on Superstruct.