Adaptation Pathways for Climate Resilience
PAS QuickNotes 115
By Melissa May, AICP
Not a member but want to buy a copy? You'll need to create a free My APA account to purchase.
Create account
Adaptation pathways offer a flexible, measured approach to climate resilience. They define a sequence of adaptation actions that are triggered by observable events and impacts over time to achieve defined objectives under changing conditions. Adaptation pathways move beyond traditional "predict and plan" scenario-based approaches by tracking observed conditions against long-term projections, enabling threshold-based decision-making and phased investments in communities and infrastructure.
This edition of PAS QuickNotes explains how developing adaptation pathways for climate resilience facilitates proactive planning in the face of uncertainty around the timing, location, and extent of local climate change impacts.
Details
About the Author
Melissa May, AICP
Melissa May, AICP, is a Principal Consultant and Resilience Lead at Haley & Aldrich. She has extensive experience advancing climate resilience across policy landscapes and built environments. She has partnered with state and local agencies on projects including resilient design guidelines and policy analysis for climate adaptation and managed retreat, topics on which she has published and presented widely. As resilience lead, Melissa develops business and strategy for Haley & Aldrich’s Resilience team and integrates resilience into practice areas across the firm. Melissa has served as lead consultant for multiple APA-award winning projects include the Kauai General Plan (recipient of the 2019 Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan), Kauai Sea Level Rise Constraint District, Honolulu Climate Adaptation Design Principles, and two State of Hawaii-led studies on managed retreat.