Which statement about the impact of climate risk on development planning is most accurate?

Which statement about the impact of climate risk on development planning is most accurate?

• A. It primarily affects only agricultural outputs.
• B. It has no impact on industrial energy choices.
• C. It affects infrastructure resilience, supply chains, and productivity, promoting adaptation measures.
• D. It is irrelevant to long-term planning.

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that climate risk touches development planning on multiple fronts, not just one sector. When planners think about the future, they must account for extreme weather, rising temperatures, floods, and other climate changes to keep infrastructure functioning, keep supply chains stable, and maintain or improve productivity. This pushes decisions toward adaptation: building resilient infrastructure, diversifying sources and routes, improving risk assessments and scenario planning, and choosing investments that can withstand climate surprises. That’s why the statement describing climate risk as affecting infrastructure resilience, supply chains, and productivity—and promoting adaptation measures—is the most accurate. The other ideas are too narrow or incorrect: climate risk extends beyond agriculture, it does influence industrial energy choices and system reliability, and it rightly belongs in long-term planning.