One principle of sustainability that urges caution in doing anything that may have unexpected environmental consequences.

I believe the answer is precautionary principle

precautionary principle refers to the actions/measurements that taken before threats are occuring in order to prevent/anticipate the potential damage that caused by those threats. Examples of the precautionary principle: banning a certain form of chemicals to be used for pesticides.

The correct answer that is being described by the statement above is precautionary principle. It is because this principle is used in means of prohibiting food or genetically modified organisms that may be subjected to importation and that the effects are likely to be disputed or resisted.