Which of the following best defines "environmental planning"?

Environmental planning refers to the process of setting goals and developing strategies that positively impact the external environment, both in terms of natural and societal factors. This involves considering how business operations affect ecological systems and how businesses can contribute to sustainability efforts. By focusing on external environmental benefits, organizations align their operations with broader ecological goals, effectively integrating corporate social responsibility into their business strategies.

This approach emphasizes a proactive mindset towards mitigating negative impacts on the environment and can lead to innovative solutions that not only fulfill regulatory requirements but also enhance brand reputation and customer loyalty by appealing to environmentally-conscious consumers.

In contrast, the other options focus on internal aspects of an organization or different areas of planning that do not directly align with the definition of environmental planning. For example, staff development is about enhancing employee skills, financial projections pertain to budgeting and forecasting, and assessing marketing impact deals with sales performance, none of which specifically address the goals related to the external environment.