As Houston begins the long rebuilding process after Hurricane Harvey , it has an opportunity to transform itself into a city ready and resilient in the face of climate change and the possibility of more extreme weather events.

Known as the oil and gas capital of the world , this city has grappled for years with the challenge of adapting to global warming. While its difficult to know whether climate change is directly responsible for a particular hurricane, some scientists say it will make storms worse and more frequent, and their aftermaths more deadly. Protecting against this now could mitigate future catastrophes. The devastation that Harvey wreaked underscores the importance of urgent action.

In late August, Harvey hit Texas as a Category 4 storm, dumping more than 50 inches of rain on parts of Houston and causing over $150 billion in damage . Before the deluge, Americas fourth-largest metropolis had been taking its first steps toward climate change preparation. Now, experts say the city must ramp up efforts to make energy usage more efficient and improve rules around urban development.

Even if there are people who dont believe in climate change, they accept that the weather has changed, that we are having more storms, said Lara Cottingham, Houstons deputy assistant director for sustainability and strategic customer initiatives.

Cottingham also notes that Hurricane Harvey was Houstons third 100-year flood an event with a 1 percent probability of occurring in any year in the past three years.