What impact do carbon-intensive activities have on the environment?

The impact of carbon-intensive activities on the environment is best captured by the assertion that they drive global warming and rising sea levels. Carbon-intensive activities primarily involve the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes that release significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

These emissions contribute to the greenhouse effect, which traps heat in the atmosphere and leads to an increase in global temperatures—commonly referred to as global warming. As the Earth's temperature rises, it causes polar ice to melt and glaciers to retreat, resulting in rising sea levels. This not only threatens coastal areas with flooding but also leads to ecological disruptions in various ecosystems.

The other options describe outcomes that are not associated with carbon-intensive activities. For instance, while some activities can impact biodiversity, they do not necessarily reduce it in a straightforward manner, nor do they promote sustainable energy practices, which are rather the opposite of carbon-intensive practices. Additionally, carbon-intensive activities do not enhance soil fertility; instead, they can lead to soil degradation by contributing to climate change and pollution that can harm soil health. Thus, the assertion that carbon-intensive activities drive global warming and rising sea levels effectively encapsulates the significant environmental consequences of such actions.