What does sustainability mean, in practical terms? Sustainability means doing things more efficiently. It means doing things better - not doing without.   Why is sustainability important to the City of Pickering? The City of Pickering recognizes the need to achieve a distinctive community that is a desired place to live, work and raise a family. By becoming a more sustainable city, Pickering is improving the quality of life for its existing and future residents.   What's the difference between sustainability and environmentalism? Sustainability is not just about the environment, it's also about other key issues - economic and social. It extends beyond ecological issues to include people and the institutions and communities that support them. Sustainability is balancing economic, environmental and social objectives.   How does sustainability affect my life? Sustainability is part of everyday life: work, home and the community. Whether it's volunteering, buying locally produced products or conserving energy, the decisions you make as a citizen, family member, consumer and worker play a vital role in guiding our community towards sustainability. Your decisions affect people's health, the local economy, our climate, greenhouse gas emissions, etc.