Defining and assessing transformational adaptation: the TransformAr scorecard

Abstract As the impacts of climate change intensify, traditional coping responses and incremental adaptation strategies are proving inadequate for addressing deep-rooted vulnerabilities and long-term risks. This has led to a growing call for transformational adaptation , which entails systemic changes that restructure societal and ecological systems to enhance long-term resilience. While the concept is relatively well-developed in academic and policy documents, its practical implementation remains limited due to a lack of operational tools. This paper presents a scorecard developed to assess the transformational character of climate adaptation projects or programmes. Building on the EU Policy Brief ‘Understanding Transformational Adaptation’, the scorecard translates five core principles—scope, depth, impact areas, temporality, and inclusivity—into a set of more concrete, easy-to-understand statements. Designed for use by local authorities and project stakeholders, the tool supports self-assessment of an adaptation project’s alignment with transformational principles, both ex ante and ex post. The scorecard does not measure adaptation effectiveness in terms of risk reduction, but rather assesses whether a project incorporates the elements necessary for systemic and lasting change. To demonstrate its utility, the paper applies the tool to two EU-funded adaptation case studies, showing how projects can exhibit both incremental and transformational features. By identifying strengths and gaps in transformational potential, the scorecard guides users toward more impactful, durable, and inclusive adaptation strategies. This way, this tool contributes to bridging the gap between theory and practice, supporting more effective implementation of transformational adaptation and helping build climate-resilient societies across Europe.