Global sustainability is a 30 years old dream of humanity; it still appears to remain a goal, with little progress seen towards it. Local sustainability is challenged even more; first of all, there seems to be a competition among the two. Local actors have found ways to act under the umbrella of global sustainability in a local unsustainable manner. The article discusses several examples, including the issue of protected areas, the trading mechanisms and three international examples; all together they seem to pint out that sustainability remains an oxymoronic concept, with little chances of implementation; the choices between conservation and development or between economy and its socio-environmental impact are still to me made.