Adapting scenarios for climate adaptation: Practitioners’ perspectives on a popular planning method

•Scenario planning for climate adaptation is increasingly popular but has not been evaluated.•We present reflections from practitioners at the European Climate Change Adaptation conference.•Participatory processes focussed locally over short (<20 year) timeframes were most effective.•Scenario planning did not sufficiently engage in decision-making processes, limiting outcomes.•Reflexive ‘transient scenarios’ embedded in iterative adaptation pathways were recommended.