Using Crises to Build Community Capacity and Pursue New Opportunities

In my hometown of Eugene, Oregon, the City has chosen to explore the issues of climate change and energy challenges through the lens of six topics –

* Buildings and Energy
* Food and Agriculture
* Land Use and Transportation
* Consumption and Waste
* Health and Social Services
* Natural Resources

While I agree that this will probably be very productive, I want to note that these are static areas that will be effected by climate change and peak oil. I would also like to see us explore these issues using dynamic inquiries like

* What capacities do we have — or need to develop — to meet these challenges?
* What desirable possibilities could we realize while or through meeting these challenges?

I posted a essay on this for the City’s project blog, exploring these — including a discussion of capacities connected to social capital, process, democracy and systems thinking. See