Backcasting diagram

WHAT IS IT

A diagram that helps you redesign the local ecosystem starting from a previous identified circular loop (you can first work on the Circular Loops diagram if you don’t already have one). The tool was designed by Metabolic.

WHY USE IT

Through co-design, this tool helps cities to deepen their understanding of current logistics and system stakeholders, and come to redesign these into future proof models that promote the concept of regenerative cities.

STEPS

Starting with the vision (RIGHT side of the timeline), you’ll have to envision all the activities that must occur to reach the identified circular loops.

1. Defining an attainable goal (10 minutes): in this activity you should define a concrete and attainable goal for the circular loop you identified thanks to the Circular Loops diagram. What 5-year goal do you want to achieve with your actions in the identified loop? Start off on the RIGHT side of the timeline.

2. Define the needed activities, identifying the possible barriers may occur between actions and the goal (30 minutes): the goal you have identified will require actions to start working towards longer-term goals.Take a few minutes to think to the main actions that are needed in the short, medium and long term (in some cases your city might already carry out or have planned useful actions to your goal). What actions needs to happen to surpass the barriers, and make this vision a reality? Start off on the RIGHT side of the timeline, thinking first to the needed long-term actions.

3. Describe the levers that must be pulled to make these actions possible (15 minutes): use the levers tag we provide in the next page and place relevant levers under each action on the timeline. Be as specific as possible.

4. Identify the stakeholders that will be required for each action (15 minutes): use the stakeholders tag we provide in the next page to tag the type of stakeholder. Be as specific as possible and pay attention: multiple actors may be needed!