6.1 Backcasting, what is it?

We start with the end in mind. Thanks to the four sustainability principles, we know what we must achieve, at a minimum, to create a future that can endure indefinitely. Together, these principles define the boundaries within which we must operate.

The Power of the 4 Principles

Since we all agree on the four principles of sustainability, we can easily agree on what a sustainable future should look like. We describe a desired future that aligns with the four principles of sustainability and, for that reason, no longer has a negative impact on people and nature. This is the dot on the horizon. The place we need to navigate toward.

Winning the Game
You can only “win” the “game” if you play by the rules. So you’re describing a future that is “necessary” for us and the generations that follow. Not a future that you currently think is possible. Some people see these ambitions and think: but that sounds very idealistic. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. It is absolutely essential to ensure that we envision a quality of life within the Earth’s limits. Because only then can we move in that direction, step by step, starting today.

Sustainability: It’s a piece of cake

You use backcasting in conjunction with sustainability principles to make a sustainable future possible. You start with the end in mind. Then, you move from today toward that future, step by step. We’ve called this planning approach the ABCD process.

On the next page, we’ll walk you through the different steps of this process.