Which statement best describes how climate change can affect development in both developed and developing countries?

• A. It only affects weather patterns.
• B. It affects infrastructure, health, agriculture, and economic stability.
• C. It has no effect on developing countries.
• D. It primarily affects urban centers.

Answer: (B)

Climate change affects development across multiple interrelated areas, not just the weather itself. Development depends on sturdy infrastructure, healthy populations, reliable food systems, and stable economies. When climate change brings more extreme weather, heat, floods, droughts, and shifting growing seasons, these sectors are hit together: roads and power grids can be damaged or strained, health systems face higher demand and new risks, crops and livestock respond to changing conditions, and food and energy prices can rise, undermining economic stability. Because these impacts touch infrastructure, health, agriculture, and the overall economy, they influence development in both developed and developing countries, though the degree and types of vulnerability may differ. The other statements are too narrow or inaccurate: weather patterns alone miss downstream effects; claiming no effect on developing countries ignores their vulnerability and reliance on climate-sensitive systems; and saying impacts are limited to urban centers overlooks rural areas and sectors essential to development like agriculture and rural infrastructure.