Since its inception in 1992, the LIFE funding program supported by the European Union (EU) has been instrumental in supporting more than 1,800 projects aimed at protecting Europe’s biodiversity and nature. The LIFE program has played a crucial role in its development by supporting the designation and management of “Natura 2000” sites. More than 6,000 of the 27,000 Natura 2000 sites have benefited from LIFE project activities. Through these projects, LIFE has implemented successful conservation measures for various habitats and species listed in the nature directives.[1]
The objectives set out by the program focus on several key areas: innovation and demonstration, supporting legislation and policy, and acting as a catalyst for deployment. The aim is to develop, demonstrate and promote innovative techniques, methods and approaches to achieve the objectives of EU legislation and policies on the environment, including the transition to renewable energy sources and increasing energy efficiency, as well as on nature, biodiversity and climate action.
The support provided by programs such as LIFE contributes to building a knowledge base and implementing best practices in relation to nature and biodiversity, in particular by supporting the Natura 2000 network. The program also aims to support the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of EU legislation and policies on environment, nature, biodiversity, climate action, renewable energy and energy efficiency. This includes improving governance at all levels, such as capacity building of public and private actors and involving civil society. Furthermore, the program aims to act as a catalyst for the large-scale implementation of successful technical and policy solutions for the implementation of EU legislation and policies on environment, nature, biodiversity, climate action and renewable energy.[2] Overall, these objectives emphasize the importance of innovation, cooperation and effective implementation in addressing environmental challenges and advancing sustainable development in the EU.
The LIFE program has been instrumental in developing green jobs and skills in urban areas, especially in sectors such as circular economy and waste management. Projects supported by LIFE have facilitated the emergence of innovative production processes, waste recycling initiatives and the establishment of markets for secondary raw materials. Significant progress has been made in waste management in particular, with LIFE projects promoting synergies between nature and business.
A notable aspect of this initiative is the promotion of organic urban agriculture, leading to the restoration of farmland surrounding cities. LIFE has enabled the creation of new urban agribusinesses by linking agricultural schools and agricultural experts with city dwellers with no previous farming experience. These enterprises not only create employment opportunities, but also increase cities’ green infrastructure and resilience to climate change.[3]
The total financial envelope of the LIFE Program for the period 2021-2027 is €5.43 billion, with €1.94 billion allocated specifically for climate action. In the area of climate action, there are two sub-programs related to hydrogen-related projects: “Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation” with €947 million and “Clean Energy Transition” with €997 million.[4]
The Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation sub-programme under the LIFE program aims to promote a shift towards sustainability and resilience in the face of climate change. On the mitigation front, it supports projects that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, covering agriculture, land use, peatland management, renewable energies and energy efficiency. Funding is directed towards pilot initiatives, demonstrations and best practices in line with EU policies and legislation. The program also advocates for integrated approaches to implementing mitigation strategies at regional or national levels.
In the area of adaptation, the focus is on increasing resilience to climate impacts. This includes projects on urban adaptation, land-use planning, infrastructure resilience, water management in drought-prone areas and protection of key sectors such as agriculture, forestry and tourism. Special attention is paid to the EU’s outermost regions, emphasizing preparedness for extreme weather events, especially in coastal areas. Action grants are available for projects that increase resilience, covering best practices, pilot projects and demonstrations. Integrated projects for the effective implementation of EU cohesion strategies and policies are also supported.[5] As a result, the sub-programme strives for a balanced approach that integrates mitigation and adaptation efforts to address the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change for a sustainable and resilient future.
Building on the successes of previous energy efficiency programs such as Intelligent Energy Europe and Horizon 2020, the LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme continues to support EU policies in the field of sustainable energy, in particular the European Green Deal, the Energy Union and the EU’s long-term decarbonization strategy. With a budget of around €1 billion from 2021 to 2027, it aims to facilitate the transition to an energy efficient, renewable-based, climate neutral and resilient economy. This is done by financing coordination and support actions across Europe, specifically targeting market barriers that impede the transition.[6] These actions involve multiple stakeholders, including small and medium-sized enterprises, local and regional authorities, non-profit organizations and consumers, and contribute to the socio-economic transformation towards sustainable energy.
The LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme is an important step towards achieving Europe’s sustainable energy goals, following in the footsteps of previous successful energy efficiency programs. It aims to accelerate the energy transition by supporting EU policies such as the European Green Deal, the Energy Union and the decarbonization strategy. In addition, the program’s large budget provides an important resource to facilitate the transition to an energy efficient, renewable energy-based and resilient economy. This is achieved in particular by focusing on EU-wide coordination and support actions to overcome market barriers.
LIFE plays an important role in strengthening national governance and building NGO capacity for conservation efforts. Examples include the AlkFens_PL project in Poland, which restored alkaline fens in Natura 2000 sites, and LIFEDRAVA in Slovenia, which improved breeding conditions for several species in the Drava River and lakes.[7] In Belgium, successive LIFE projects have promoted the protection of stream valleys and dunes by proposing regional park status for areas within Natura 2000 sites. Also in the UK, the Cumbrian BogsLIFE+ project successfully restored a degraded bog, leading to Bolton Fell Moss being declared a National Nature Reserve within six years.[8] These initiatives are a clear demonstration of how policy implementation supported by LIFE funding can lead to significant conservation achievements, including the designation of protected areas and restoration of vital habitats.
The LIFE Program offers a share of €571 million in funding for 2024 for successful project proposals.[9] With these large sums of money available for project financing, the LIFE Program helps Europe move towards a greener and more sustainable future by enabling the development of projects in areas such as reducing environmental pollution, protecting natural resources and promoting the transition to renewable energy. It is envisaged that the LIFE Program will continue to be an important tool for Europe’s environmental and economic sustainability in the future. Its achievements will continue to guide the development and implementation of innovative and effective solutions to address environmental challenges.
[1] “LIFE Programme & Natura 2000”, Avrupa Ekonomik Alanı, https://portal.discomap.eea.europa.eu/arcgis/apps/storymaps/collections/4a0cf90d898c4f1696aafa3b8414c392?item=3, (Date of Access: 20.04.2024).
[2] “LIFE – 2021-2027”, Welcomeurope, https://welcomeurope.com/en/programs/life/, (Date of Access: 20.04.2024).
[3] “The LIFE Programme”, Switchtogreen, https://www.switchtogreen.eu/the-life-programme/, (Date of Access: 20.04.2024).
[4] “LIFE programme”, Avrupa Komisyonu, https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/industry/strategy/hydrogen/funding-guide/eu-programmes-funds/life-programme_en, (Date of Access: 21.04.2024).
[5] “Climate change mitigation and adaptation”, Avrupa Komisyonu, https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life/climate-change-mitigation-and-adaptation_en#climate-change-mitigation, (Date of Access: 21.04.2024).
[6] “Clean Energy Transition”, Avrupa Komisyonu, https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life/clean-energy-transition_en, (Date of Access: 21.04.2024).
[7] “Bringing nature back through LIFE”, Avrupa Komisyonu, https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/document/download/279f3a35-adc9-4245-b120-46fe079a7afb_en?filename=bringing_nature_back_through_life_brochure.pdf, (Date of Access: 21.04.2024).
[8] Ibid.
[9] “LIFE Calls for proposals 2024: bring your green dream to life with a share of €571 million funding!”, Avrupa Komisyonu, https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/news-events/news/life-calls-proposals-2024-bring-your-green-dream-life-share-eu571-million-funding-2024-04-18_en, (Date of Access: 21.04.2024).
