npj Urban Sustainability

Backcasting—a scenario approach in urban climate adaptation planning

2025-08-21

Impacts related to climate change and urbanisation demand innovative urban climate adaptation actions. Developing such actions can be supported by scenario approaches such as backcasting. In this perspective paper, we discuss backcasting (1) conceptually—by advancing the concept suggesting a combination of past and future developments, (2) topic wise—by applying backcasting to urban climate adaptation actions and green infrastructure, and (3) methodologically—by applying GIS-based modelling.

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DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00260-6