An adaptation action is a specific action or measure that is taken to adapt to certain effects of climate change. Maladaptation, on the other hand, refers to the process that an intentional adaptation action may lead to negative effects, which increase vulnerability, diminish well-being, or undermine sustainable development.
This new self-assessment tool from REGILIENCE focuses on spotting potential risk factors for maladaptation as early as possible. Its objective is to help users to avoid or reduce maladaptation risks in the planning phase of adaptation actions. With this tool, users are guided through a checklist of 17 questions, each one focusing on one risk factor for maladaptation. By simply responding to the question by selecting yes/no/partially for each of the risk factors, the maladaptive potential of the planned adaptation action is checked.
The tool is mainly designed for people or institutions who are in charge of planning and implementing regional adaptation actions, but it can also be adopted to be used on a local, individual or national level.