Drawing on recent work by the Institute, IEEP’s Patrick ten Brink will present at Green Week 2015 on Jobs & Growth through Green Infrastructure (3 June 2015 – 16:30-18:00, Session 2.2) and on Health and Social Benefits of Nature and Biodiversity Protection (4 June 2015 – 09:30-11:00, Session 3.3).

Jobs & Growth through Green Infrastructure: Patrick’s presentation will highlight how green infrastructure investments can create jobs and contribute to economic and social well-being across Europe. Natural and semi-natural areas – from protected sites to urban parks, tree-lined streets to green roofs – offer a range of job opportunities. Park rangers can work with health professionals and scientists. Park authorities can invest to attract recreational use and tourism, with clear economic benefits. City authorities, architects, spatial planners, ecologists and engineers can collaborate on sustainable cities.

Health and Social Benefits of Nature and Biodiversity Protection: This session will identify key components of a Health and Nature road map. Nature and biodiversity protection provide a wide range of health and social benefits – from reducing heat stress, noise and pollution in cities to improving mental and physical health and well-being, and supporting social cohesion and engagement. Capitalising on these benefits can reduce pressures on public health services, and working with nature provides employment opportunities and the chance to invest in communities and society via volunteering and engagement. Patrick will outline the early findings of an ongoing project on the Health and Social Benefits of Nature and Biodiversity Protection, showing how different stakeholders are working together.

For more information please contact Patrick ten Brink. See also the article on page 53 of the European Parliament magazine’s June edition on Health and Nature – Nature can provide key to tackling European urban health problems.