In the context of sustainability, what does "environmental sustainability" primarily focus on?

Environmental sustainability primarily focuses on maintaining biodiversity and ensuring the health of ecosystems. This concept is integral to sustaining the planet’s natural resources and the services they provide, which are vital for human survival and well-being. It emphasizes the need to preserve the variety of life forms, including different species, their genetic diversity, and the ecosystems where they thrive.

By fostering biodiversity, environmental sustainability aims to create resilient ecosystems capable of withstanding and adapting to environmental changes and stresses. Healthy ecosystems provide essential services such as clean air and water, pollination of crops, and mitigation of climate change impacts, all of which are crucial for both current and future generations.

The other options do not capture the core focus of environmental sustainability. For example, while economic welfare is important, it does not directly address ecological health. Similarly, maximizing resource extraction often leads to depletion and degradation, which contradicts the principles of sustainability. The development of urban centers, while important for economic and social reasons, must also be balanced with environmental considerations to avoid harm to biodiversity and ecosystems.