Measuring Sustainability Report

Pickering's Path to Sustainability: Reporting On Our Progress

The City of Pickering is updating its Measuring Sustainability Report (MSR) and invites community members to have their say by completing the survey below.

Pickering, along with many dedicated community partners, continue to take steps that support the transition into a more sustainable city. An important part of this journey involves collecting and monitoring sustainability-related data and updating the community about our progress.

This report will include a broad set of indicators, which are grouped into 5 sections:

• Healthy Environment: refers to the well-being and integrity of the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the natural areas we enjoy.
• Healthy Economy: vibrant economies support a mix of economic activities and help residents enjoy a high quality of life. By creating economic security and financial stability, local governments can contribute to positive social outcomes, improve access to basic needs, enhance meaningful employment.
• Healthy Society: refers to the physical health and well-being of residents, the ways in which members of the community relate to one another, and the safety and well-being of the people living in the community.
• Responsible Development: promotes the sustainability and livability of the community as a whole. It integrates active transportation networks, strategic urban design, land use, as well as access to public spaces and services.
• Responsible Consumption: refers to the way the community consumes and uses resources, such as water, energy, and food, and the associated amount of waste produced through activities. It includes seeking to minimize resource use through clean technologies, conservation, energy efficiencies, local food production, recycling, and waste diversion.

Goals & Objectives

• Informed Decision-Making: Reporting on and analyzing progress can help inform decision-making for future practices, polices, and programs.
• Community Engagement: The report fosters transparency and encourages community involvement. The report describes the efforts of the City and many community partners in relation to the indicators, and provides tips on how you can contribute towards a more sustainable Pickering.
• Benchmarking Progress: The report allows the City to benchmark its progress against past performance, facilitating opportunities for continuous improvement.

Where we started - setting the baseline

In 2010, the City produced its first report on measuring sustainability, which included baseline measurements for 19 of the 32 indicators that had been selected in consultation with staff, stakeholders, and residents. In 2012, the City engaged in further technical working group discussions and carried out a community survey. The survey provided insight into individual perspectives toward sustainability and household actions that support sustainability. The corresponding 2012 Measuring Sustainability Report reflected on 55 indicators of sustainability. The most recent version was the 2017 Measuring Sustainability Report, which will provide baseline information to report on the City’s relative progress in the 2024 report.

Get Involved!

We want to ensure that the Measuring Sustainability Report is informed by you, so that together, we are collectively making strides towards becoming a more sustainable city.

Complete the survey below by July 5, 2024. Those who complete the survey can have a chance to win a free 1-year Basic Health or Basic Fitness membership at the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex. *Must be minimum age of 13 to incur membership. Membership is non-transferable.

Stay tuned to this project page for upcoming opportunities to participate!