Context Westminster is home to some of the UK’s most famous and well-known parks and green spaces, comprising some 200 open spaces (both public and private) across the city. The City Council alone is responsible for around 20,000 trees across the city’s streets, open spaces, housing estates and individual properties. Green spaces, trees and other natural features have a significant role in acting as a carbon 'sink' to remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere and also play an important role in supporting biodiversity, improved air quality and adaptation benefits (for example by providing shade and retaining surface water). We aim to fully harness these co-benefits in all of our Green and Resilient City actions. Green and Resilient City The Council owns approximately 20,000 trees across the city’s streets, open spaces and on housing estates and individual properties, absorbing about 1,045 tonnes of carbon per year. Overall tree canopy cover for Westminster was 16.17% in 2018. No net greenhouse gas emissions are created from agriculture or land use changes within Westminster. However, green spaces play a positive role in absorbing some carbon and improving resilience to heatwaves and floods. Green spaces in Westminster are almost entirely made up of woodland (9% of the borough) and grassland (8%). Green spaces, trees and other natural features have a significant role in acting as a carbon 'sink' " " challenges and opportunities challenges and opportunities 37 | Zero Carbon City 2040 Westminster Climate Emergency Action Plan Contents Contents Foreword and introduction Foreword and introduction Glossary Glossary accelerating Delivery accelerating Delivery commitment and Collaboration commitment and Collaboration