Which statement best describes how climate adaptation influences urban land-use planning?

• A. It ignores climate risks to accelerate development.
• B. It only addresses energy efficiency.
• C. It requires considering flood risk, heat, and storms, and uses zoning, green infrastructure, and building codes.
• D. It eliminates the need for green infrastructure.

Answer: (C)

Climate adaptation in urban land-use planning means shaping decisions around the climate risks a city is likely to face—flooding, extreme heat, and storms—and using a mix of tools to reduce vulnerability. Planning decisions consider where development should occur and how it should be designed to minimize risk. Zoning helps steer growth away from high-risk areas and guide land uses that are more resilient. Green infrastructure, like rain gardens, permeable surfaces, trees, and green roofs, lowers flood risk, cools urban heat, and manages stormwater. Building codes are updated to require stronger, more resilient structures that can withstand extreme events. Together, these elements create a planning approach that proactively addresses climate risks rather than ignoring them, and it uses green infrastructure as a central adaptation tool rather than eliminating it. Climate adaptation is broader than just energy efficiency and is not limited to a single tactic.