Unleashing the Power of Imagination with Rob Hopkins

My guest today is Rob Hopkins, cofounder of Transition Town Totnes and Transition Network, and the author of The Transition Handbook, The Transition Companion, The Power of Just Doing Stuff, 21 Stories of Transition and most recently, From What Is to What If: unleashing the power of imagination to create the future we want.

In 2012, he was voted one of the Independent’s top 100 environmentalists and was on Nesta and the Observer’s list of Britain’s 50 New Radicals.

In this episode we discuss:

• The power of mass movements (e.g., Civil Rights Movement, COVID-19 responses, wartime efforts like Dig for Victory).
• The need for a more cohesive and alternative narrative to the dominant one.
• Moving beyond cheap energy – implications for food, education, and the economy.
• 2024 CO₂ levels surpassing 1.5°C threshold (10th January 2025).
• The need to shift the burden from individual carbon footprints to corporate accountability (e.g., Chevron, Exxon).
• The need for structural wake-up calls – governments and corporations driving large-scale change.
• Example: Concrete alone accounts for 9% of global emissions.
• The economy’s success is measured by its size, but should we use different metrics?
• The Degrowth Movement – shifting focus from GDP to wellbeing and sustainability.
• Fridays for Future – reflections on organising and impact.
• What did our towns look like before global energy dependence?
• Proof that governments can listen to science and find funding overnight.
• ‘The Greta Effect’ – a measurable drop in air travel and meat consumption.
• A mayor’s radical food system redesign: 80% of food grown locally at the same price as imports.
•  The importance of rethinking, reimagining, and equipping ourselves with better models for sustainable futures.

Show Notes:

https://theoutdoorteacher.com/podcasts/episode-53-rob-hopkins-unleashing-the-power-of-imagination/

Music by Geoff Robb: www.geoffrobb.com

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