The Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, has marked the start of the COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow by signing the the Fields in Trust Parks Protector Pledge.
The Pledge sets out how elected representatives can work to champion, support, and protect green spaces for good both locally and nationally. According to recent Fields in Trust research, the Wellbeing Value associated with the frequent use of local parks and green spaces is worth £34.2 billion per year to the entire UK adult population.
Commenting on her signing of the Pledge, Janet said:
“With global biodiversity loss happening at an alarming rate, and Climate Change impacting our homes and local communities, I am proud to kick off my COP26 activities by taking the Parks Protector Pledge to champion and advocate for green space protections in Cardiff Bay.
“Going forward, I’m keen to highlight that the need to protect these spaces goes beyond combatting the climate and nature emergencies. According to research by Fields in Trust, parks and green spaces are estimated to save the NHS around £111 million per year based solely on a reduction in GP visits.
“It is why I have previously called on the Welsh Government to increase the use of green prescribing, with the outdoors being a proven natural healer. Ultimately, this also means that the removal of a park or green space should only be viewed as short-sighted and would likely cost more money than is saved.
“In taking a global leadership role in Glasgow, having already published a world leading Net Zero Strategy, the UK Government has put green space protections at the front and centre. It is now time for the Welsh Government to address its own governance gap and institute biodiversity targets as a means of protecting and championing our local parks and green areas.”
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
