Measuring Sustainability

Tracking our progress toward a more Sustainable Pickering

The 2024 Measuring Sustainability Report is how we track Pickering’s progress across five focus areas: environment, society, economy, development, and consumption. The 2024 edition is our fourth report and includes 33 indicators organized under these areas. The report provides a snapshot of local trends, highlights collective action, and points to where we can keep improving. The report also offers practical tips to get involved and take part in building a more sustainable Pickering.

Why it matters

The MSR is an information tool to help to support ongoing monitoring and transparency, strengthen community awareness, and as appropriate, help inform planning efforts. Indicators span multiple sectors. Readers interested in more detailed information about specific data and related content can view the original sources that are provided in the appendix section.

In general, the report speaks to:

• Healthy Environment — air and water quality, biodiversity, trees, and natural and impervious cover
• Healthy Society — neighbourhood connection, participation, mental and overall health, crime, and weather‑related emergencies 
• Healthy Economy — employment, unemployment, job diversity, and family income
• Responsible Development — sustainable mobility, trails, parkland, and agricultural land use
• Responsible Consumption — energy, greenhouse gas, water, waste, and household practices

What’s new in this report

Several new indicators are introduced in this report and are identified in the document with an *.

These new measures help provide a more comprehensive view of sustainability in Pickering, capturing not only environmental and economic progress but also social well-being, participation, and survey participant perceptions about several areas.

Get involved

Everyone has a role to play. Explore local programs, events, and everyday actions that you can do to help support a more sustainable Pickering. Visit pickering.ca/sustainable for more information.