Which statement best describes a key outcome of an environmental audit?

• A. It measures only energy consumption.
• B. It reports on employee performance with respect to safety training.
• C. It identifies gaps in regulatory compliance and recommends corrective actions.
• D. It focuses on marketing opportunities for sustainability.

Answer: (C)

Environmental audits systematically evaluate an organization's environmental performance to verify compliance with laws, permits, and internal policies. A key outcome is to uncover gaps between what is practiced and what regulations require, and to propose corrective actions to close those gaps. This creates a concrete path to improved compliance and environmental performance, often with prioritized actions, assigned responsibilities, and timelines. The other statements describe narrower or unrelated goals: measuring only energy use misses broader regulatory issues; evaluating employee safety training focuses on personnel aspects rather than regulatory adherence; and marketing opportunities concern external messaging rather than ensuring legal compliance.