A new resource helps regional and local powers take immediate and effective steps to prepare for a hotter, wetter and less predictable atmosphere. Here’s what you need to know about this invaluable asset.
On Tuesday 13th May, ADEPT and the Environment Agency launched a pivotal new resource for local authorities [LAs], the Rapid Adaptation Pathways Assessment [RAPA] toolkit.
The RAPA toolkit is the result of months of collaboration, an informative pilot scheme and insightful feedback. It marks an important step in helping councils proactively plan for the growing impacts of flooding and coastal erosion caused by climate change.
As an organisation supporting directors of place, we understand the mounting pressures that LAs face. From managing the immediate aftermath of extreme weather events to planning for an uncertain future; responding to the adaptation challenge is complicated but urgent.
Understanding adaptation pathways
The UK climate is changing, but we don’t know with absolute certainty when changes will occur, or how rapidly.
ADEPT and the Environment Agency have worked closely to raise awareness and improve understanding of adaptation pathways which enable practical, low-risk decision-making today whilst retaining options for the future. They allow planning for climate change by developing a flexible roadmap for a range of different climate scenarios.
A design built on practical use and application
RAPAs are ‘high-level’ adaptation pathways, developed in workshop settings. They use the expert judgement of participating stakeholders to identify thresholds and actions, using maps and defined data.
Learning from the Environment Agency’s Adaptation Pathways Programme shows it is helpful to bring partners together at an early stage to consider the problem at hand, rather than dive straight into a detailed adaptation pathway or technical assessment.
Providing a structured framework for LAs to undertake basic adaptation pathways assessments through collaborative workshops with stakeholders; the approach supports strategic, flexible decision-making widely recognised as global best practice in adaptation planning.
The RAPA methodology centres on two simple questions:
- Are there climate change impacts that make our current services or assets ineffective?
- At these thresholds, what are our best options for continuing to meet our goals under worsening conditions?
By exploring these questions with technical or delivery partners, stakeholders and communities, LAs can begin to map the pathways that will keep them on track from today through to 2100. This includes consideration of the current climate up to the highest climate scenarios.
Collaborative development
The Adaptation Pathways Programme which contributed to the development of the toolkit was funded by DEFRA, forming part of the £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes managed by the Environment Agency.
We knew that the RAPA toolkit needed to be practical and grounded in real-world experience. To shape it, we worked closely with three different authorities. The locations chosen offered the ability to focus on different issues and risks, helping us to gather a wider range of information.
Marlborough (Wiltshire Council), Adur & Worthing (West Sussex County Council), and Severnside (South Gloucestershire Council & West of England Mayoral Combined Authority) were all part of the pilot scheme and offered their feedback as part of the learning and idea sharing process.
Each pilot location helped to explore the diverse challenges we face as a country, from surface water flooding in rural market towns to sea level rise in coastal communities.
Launch webinar
At the launch webinar on the 13th May, we heard from one pilot location already embedding RAPAs to shape local planning.
Councils will no longer have to wait for ‘perfect’ data or definitive forecasts, which was one of our key goals.
As Harry Chalk, Environment Agency’s Adaptation Pathways Business lead pointed out,
“With 6.3 million properties in England in areas at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water, it is vital that local authorities can make the best decisions when it comes to adapting to our changing climate…earlier collaboration between local authorities and their partners supports effective decision-making, and through the new toolkit we are empowering them to deliver positive change for their communities.”
Planning ahead
The RAPA toolkit is not the end of the journey, but many local authorities will benefit from it as a vital first step.
At ADEPT, we’re proud to have developed this toolkit with the Environment Agency, and we’re committed to supporting local authorities as they rise to the challenge of climate adaptation.
Kylie Russell is Deputy Chief Executive for The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport [ADEPT].
Image: Антон Дмитриев / Unsplash
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