Rapid Adaptation Pathways Assessment (RAPA) - toolkit
Adaptation pathways allow us to plan for climate change by developing a flexible roadmap for a range of different climate scenarios. We know that the UK climate is changing, but we don’t know with absolute certainty when changes will occur, or how rapidly.
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.
Early learning from the Environment Agency’s Adaptation Pathways Programme shows it’s helpful to bring partners together at an early stage to consider the problem at hand, rather than dive straight into detailed adaptation pathway building. It’s helpful to start simple: building consensus around one or more pathways before delving into technical assessment. RAPAs can help with this.
ADEPT and the Environment Agency have worked with three local authorities to test the approach and to create a RAPA toolkit, providing the tools for other local authorities to use the approach.
Pilot RAPA Approach
We tested the RAPA approach with workshops in three pilot locations: Marlborough (Wiltshire Council), Adur & Worthing (West Sussex County Council) and Severnside (South Gloucestershire Council & West of England Mayoral Combined Authority). These locations helped us to test the RAPA approach and use lessons learnt to develop the RAPA toolkit.
Find out more about the pilot locations.
RAPA Toolkit
In collaboration with the Environment Agency, we have developed a Rapid Adaptation Pathway Assessment toolkit. The toolkit and additional supporting resources are available via the Environment Agency Engagement HQ link below.
Find more information in the summary of the RAPA toolkit and access a pdf of the RAPA toolkit.
This focuses on flood and coastal erosion risks and is aimed at local authorities, allowing them to undertake a basic rapid adaptation pathways assessment approach in their places and partnerships.
By using the RAPA approach, local authorities can take adaptation actions at the right time, avoiding the cost associated with acting too early or too late.
The concept is based on two key questions:
- Are there climate change impacts that make current assets or services inefficient, ineffective, or redundant?
- At these thresholds, what are the best options for enabling a local authority to continue to meet its objectives?
The RAPA toolkit was officially launched on 13th May 2025, with a webinar delivered in partnership with the Environment Agency.
Flood and coastal practitioners can access supporting templates and case studies from the Environment Agency’s Adaptation Pathways Knowledge Hub.
