\"GreenTech Solutions,\" a manufacturing firm, is implementing ISO 14001:2015 to improve its environmental performance and stakeholder relations. During the initial stages of defining the EMS scope, the company identifies several interested parties, including local residents, environmental advocacy groups, regulatory bodies, employees, and shareholders. Through stakeholder engagement, it becomes evident that the local residents are significantly concerned about the noise pollution generated by the factory\'s operations during night shifts. Despite this concern being raised consistently and documented as a significant issue by the stakeholder engagement team, the top management decides to exclude noise pollution from the EMS scope, arguing that addressing it would require substantial investment in noise reduction technologies, impacting short-term profitability. They maintain that the EMS will focus solely on waste management and energy consumption, as these are easier to manage and align with immediate cost-saving opportunities.\n\nWhich of the following best describes the most critical deficiency in GreenTech Solutions\' approach to defining the EMS scope, according to ISO 14001:2015 requirements?