What does sustainable development aim to minimize?

Sustainable development aims to minimize environmental impact as a core principle. This concept involves creating and maintaining projects that meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. By focusing on reducing environmental impact, sustainable development seeks to protect ecosystems, conserve energy, and reduce waste and pollution. This is achieved through various practices such as using renewable resources, enhancing energy efficiency, and implementing environmentally friendly materials and construction methods.

In contrast, the other options do not capture the overarching goal of sustainable practices. While minimizing construction delays, overall project costs, and design variations may be beneficial aspects of project management, they do not directly relate to the fundamental objectives of sustainable development, which prioritizes environmental stewardship above all else.