What is a major challenge that urban areas face due to climate change?

Urban areas are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and one of the major challenges they face is the threat to infrastructure. As climate change leads to more extreme weather events, including higher temperatures, intense storms, flooding, and sea-level rise, the existing urban infrastructure—such as roads, bridges, drainage systems, and buildings—may become inadequate or damaged. This inadequate infrastructure can lead to increased repair costs, disrupted public services, and heightened risks to residents' safety.

For instance, heavy rainfall can overwhelm drainage systems, causing flooding that damages property and disrupts transportation. Similarly, rising temperatures can stress energy grids, leading to blackouts. As urban populations grow, the strain on infrastructure increases, making it critical to invest in climate-resilient designs and improvements.

The other options do not accurately reflect the challenges urban areas face due to climate change. Improved weather patterns might suggest better predictability, which is generally not the case as climate change tends to increase variability and severity in weather. Better public health systems are generally a response to challenges rather than a direct benefit or outcome of climate change. Increased biodiversity, while often a beneficial ecological goal, can be negatively impacted by urbanization and climate change, as urban areas often lead to habitat loss and fragmentation