REGILIENCE Self-Assessment Tool for Maladaptation

The Self-Assessment Tool for Maladaptation from REGILIENCE is designed to help users, such as climate adaptation departments at regional authorities or organisations, spot signs of maladaptation in their adaptation planning as soon as possible.

The tool is available in 10 languages, which are available to download on this page: English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Greek, Croatian, Bulgarian, and Dutch. Learn more about the tool to improve your adaptation planning!

What is Maladaptation?

Maladaptation refers to the process that occurs when an intentional adaptation action leads to unintentional negative effects. For example, maladaptive actions can increase vulnerability, diminish well-being, or undermine sustainable development. This can have effects on the regions, systems, sectors, or social groups that were targeted by the adaptation action, or on others that were not directly targeted.

How Does the Tool Work?

The tool is a checklist of 16 questions designed to spot warning signs of maladaptation. It is recommended to use the tool as early in the planning stage as possible, but it can be used at any point in the adaptation process.

To use the tool, users review their planned action and tick “yes”, “no”, or “partially” for each question. A comments field is available for noting related thoughts, reminders, keywords or to-dos. This exercise is estimated to take as little as an hour to complete, but it can prevent costly and harmful mistakes and strengthen climate resilience.

The outcome of the assessment is not a simple pass or fail. Instead, it highlights specific areas that need closer attention. Questions answered with “no” or “partially” signal points where adaptation plans may need refinement or further consultation. These red flags can then be cross-checked with additional resources, such as the Climate-ADAPT Adaptation Support Tool, to find appropriate ways forward.

The REGILIENCE self-assessment tool gives climate adaptation planners a practical way to test the resilience of their plans against potential pitfalls. Importantly, it works best when multiple people complete the tool independently. Comparing answers not only reduces subjective bias but can also raise awareness of maladaptation signs within teams.

Ultimately, the REGILIENCE Self-Assessment Tool for Maladaptation is meant to ensure that climate adaptation measures effectively build resilience, protect livelihoods, and strengthen ecosystems in the face of a changing climate.