What role did climate change play in human evolution?

The option stating that climate change influenced resource availability and habitat shifts is correct as it captures a crucial aspect of human evolution. Throughout history, climate fluctuations have dramatically altered ecosystems, leading to changes in the distribution and abundance of resources such as food and water. As climates shifted, early hominins were compelled to adapt to new environments, which often involved changes in their diet, foraging strategies, and social behaviors.

Such adaptations were vital for survival and eventually played a significant role in the development of traits associated with modern humans, including increased cognitive abilities, social complexity, and technological innovations. For instance, fluctuations between wet and dry periods could lead to the development of new tools and social structures to exploit varying resources, which were critical for the survival of early human populations.

By contrast, other options downplay the positive relationship between climate change and evolutionary adaptation or misconstrue its influence as neutral or negative. Understanding this dynamic illustrates how species, including humans, have continually adapted to changing conditions, making climate change a central factor in our evolutionary history.