What is a potential negative outcome of poor environmental impact assessments?

Poor environmental impact assessments can lead to unforeseen environmental degradation because these assessments are intended to identify and evaluate the potential effects of a project on the environment before it begins. If these assessments are inadequate or skipped altogether, potential harmful impacts might not be recognized or mitigated. As a result, projects could result in pollution, habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and depletion of natural resources, which can have long-term detrimental effects on ecosystems and local communities.

The other options, while sounding beneficial, do not align with the consequences of a poor environmental impact assessment. Improved community relations are unlikely as distrust may arise from environmental harm. Financial savings for businesses can be misleading, as short-term savings could lead to higher long-term costs due to damage and remediation. Lastly, enhanced biodiversity contradicts the principles of a poorly conducted assessment, since neglecting environmental considerations typically harms biodiversity rather than supports it.