Backcasting: looking back from a desirable future. Since the 1990s sustainable futures have been explored in backcasting experiments, numerous stakeholders have been involved and first steps have been planned in line with the envisioned sustainable futures. But what is the impact of these so-called backcasting experiments ten years later?
Backcasting for a Sustainable Future: The impact after 10 years is the first book that systematically investigates the follow-up and spin-off of backcasting experiments seven to ten years after completion. It presents three case studies about (1) Novel Protein Foods and meat alternatives; (2) Sustainable Households and Nutrition; and (3) Multiple Sustainable Land-use in rural areas.
The cases show that participatory backcasting may, but does not automatically lead to substantial follow-up and spinoff. Using innovation and learning theories the factors that affect the emergence of follow-up and new networks are identified and discussed.
This book will be of great value to all those who work on sustainable futures and system innovations, such as researchers in system innovations, sustainability and social change, as well as policy-makers, transition experts and backcasting professionals.
Jaco Quist is an assistant professor at the faculty of Technology, Policy and Management of Delft University of Technology. He has worked on various aspects of backcasting and system innovations towards sustainability for almost fifteen years.
