Managed retreat—the purposeful, coordinated movement of people and assets out of harm's way—is a controversial and often overlooked adaptation tool but also a potentially transformative one.
Managed retreat as a transformative adaptation approach
Some places are becoming inhabitable because of climate change, shifting how we approach community planning.
Climate change is transforming our landscapes, impacting natural ecosystems, the built environment, and the communities we call home. In many parts of the world, communities are grappling with the increasing severity and frequency of hazard events, like floods, fires, and extreme weather. In some cases, places that were once habitable may no longer be safe or viable under future climate conditions. For some communities, such as those experiencing recurrent flood risks or the gradual loss of land due to coastal erosion and sea-level rise, integrating strategic relocation into disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation planning may be essential.
Managed retreat is the strategic relocation of homes, infrastructure, and other community assets from high-risk areas.
It requires the withdrawal of human-made structures that impede or are impacted by naturally-occurring processes within at-risk areas, like floodplains and wildland-urban interfaces. Retreat can take a number of forms including, but not limited to, the managed realignment of flood protection infrastructure, property buyout and land acquisition programs, public land trusts and conservation easements, and community resettlement.
Retreat is just one tool in the adaptation toolbox, and can be proactively integrated into a mixed suite of planning approaches.
Adaptation is not a one-size-fits-all approach; adapting to climate change will require iterative problem-solving, collaborative processes, and creative solutions. That's why it is important to consider managed retreat as part of a broader toolkit that includes protective measures, nature-based solutions, floodproofing retrofits, adaptive structures and elements that work with flooding, and other non-structural planning tools (e.g., zoning, land-use regulations).
Process matters: Re-envisioning managed retreat as equitable, proactive, and community-led
Traditionally, managed retreat has been reactively applied following a disaster, and in top-down ways that have too often overlooked the diverse needs of affected communities. Engaging communities in adaptation planning early, often, and equitably is essential to minimizing harms, redressing historical inequalities, and ensuring that all voices are considered. Empowering communities to contribute to co-designing shared visions for the future allows for intentional adaptation, allowing communities to prioritize actions that align with their values.
Managed retreat 101
Infographic by Partners for Action, University of Waterloo