Adaptation Pathway Programme

Programme aims

The Adaptation Pathway Programme aims to develop adaptation pathways in four key locations of national significance: Thames Estuary, Humber Estuary, River Severn catchment, South and West Yorkshire.

The Adaptation Pathway Programme is helping to deliver the objectives of the £200m Flood and Coastal Innovation Programmes and National FCERM Strategy. The four locations are working together to develop, test and share guidance, resources and tools to better integrate adaptation to future flooding and coastal change into projects, investments and strategic plans.

Why are we funding this work now?

Looking out to 2100, we need to help local places better plan and adapt to future flooding and coastal change. This will mean being agile to the latest climate science, growth projections, investment opportunities and other changes to our local environment. We call this 'adaptation pathways'. Adaptation pathways enable local places to better plan for future flooding and coastal change and adapt to future climate hazards.

As a nation we need to improve the way we integrate adaptation to flooding and coastal change into daily activities and projects, as well as long-term strategic investment plans and strategies for places and catchments. By doing so we can better equip practitioners and policy makers to make the best decisions, taken at the right time to benefit people, infrastructure, the economy and the environment.

What are adaptation pathways?

An adaptation pathway is a decision-making approach, that allows decision-makers to take actions under uncertainty. It enables you to identify what actions can be taken now and in the future.

How can I find out more about how to embed an adaptive approach?

Our knowledge hub which hosts a bank of best practice and digital tools to equip risk management authorities to embed adaptive approaches to flooding and coastal change into their projects, investments and strategic plans. This knowledge hub meets a key action in the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy Roadmap to 2026.