LIFE Programme

The LIFE Programme is an instrument for financing the environmental and climate actions of the European Union. The overall objective of the LIFE Programme  is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental and climate policy and legislation by co-financing projects with European added value.

The LIFE Programme  started in 1992 and has so far co-financed around 4,600 projects across the EU, with a total contribution of around  €6.5 billion  to environmental and climate protection. For the next phase of the program (2021-2027), the European Commission has proposed to increase the budget to over €5.45 billion. The LIFE Programme  is managed by the European Commission, which handed it over for implementation to the European Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and Environment (CINEA).

On June 1, 2018, the European Commission introduced a regulation establishing a new LIFE Programme  for 2021-2027, the objectives of which are:

• contribute to the transition to a clean, circular, energy-efficient, low-carbon and climate resilient economy, through the clean energy transition,
• protect and improve the quality of the environment,
• halt and reverse biodiversity loss, thus contributing to sustainable development.

The Commission committed € 5.45 billion to a new program consisting of four sub-programs:

• Nature and biodiversity
• Circular economy and quality of life
• Climate change mitigation and adaptation
• Switching to clean energy

This is 60% more than in the previous period. € 3.5 billion will go to environmental projects and the remaining € 1.9 billion will be transferred to climate actions.

Nature and Biodiversity - supporting LIFE projects that will help protect Europe's nature, thus contributing to sustainable development. There are also plans for new "Strategic Nature Projects". They will help integrate nature and biodiversity policy into other areas such as agriculture and rural development. This sub-program supports the implementation of the EU Directives for the protection of wild birds and natural habitats, of wild fauna and flora, and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. It will also help develop the Natura 2000 network and contribute to the Invasive Alien Species Regulation.

Climate change mitigation and adaptation - reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing resilience to climate change and raising awareness of climate change mitigation. This sub-program helps in the transition to a sustainable, energy efficient, renewable energy, climate neutral and resilient economy.

Circular economy and quality of life - LIFE projects will develop technologies and solutions to improve the circular economy. Projects cover the recovery of resources from waste and others for water, air, noise, soil and chemicals, as well as environmental management. They support the EU's circular economy action plan. Furthermore, this sub-program aims to protect, restore and improve the quality of the environment through direct interventions or other policies. It will also continue to implement, monitor and evaluate EU environmental policy and law through strategic integrated projects.

Clean Energy Transition - this sub-program will finance LIFE projects on energy efficiency and small-scale renewable energy to support the “Clean Energy for All Europeans” project. It will facilitate the transition to an energy-efficient, renewable, climate-neutral and resilient economy. It also aims to remove market barriers that may hinder the socio-economic transition to sustainable energy.