Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The EU Commission funds over €380 million in 133 new LIFE projects to back the green transition all around Europe.
The European Commission has granted around €380 million to 133 new projects across Europe under the LIFE Programme for Environment and Climate Action. The allotted amount represents more than half of the €574 million total investment requirements for these projects – the remainder coming from national, regional and local administrations, public-private associations, businesses, and civil society organisations.
LIFE projects assist in reaching the European Green Deal’s broad range of climate, energy and environmental objectives, including the EU’s ambition to become climate-neutral by 2050 and to stop and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 while ensuring Europe’s long-term prosperity.
How does the €380 million contribute to climate neutrality?
€143 million assists the circular economy and enhances the quality of life. Close to €216 million is set for nature and biodiversity schemes to restore freshwater, marine and coastal ecosystems, and habitats; and enhance the conservation status of birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. Almost €110 million are for climate resilience, climate mitigation and governance and information and €105 million for governance and market solutions to accelerate the clean energy transition.
How do LIFE projects promote the circular economy and quality of life?
Among the 26 projects set to promote a more circular economy and quality of life. 25 projects will sustain nature and biodiversity in a wide range of areas. Two projects, LIFE4AquaticWarbler and LIFE AWOM, involve Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Lithuania, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, and Portugal, as well as Ukraine and Senegal, with a combined budget of nearly €24 million to save the rare aquatic warbler bird, in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030. Another example is Biodiverse City LIFE, a €3.6 million project in Budapest to promote the ‘peaceful coexistence of nature and the urban lifestyle’.
IMAGE LIFE and LIFE VINOSHIELD are elements of the 23 climate change resilience and mitigation projects. To ensure a clean energy transition, as part of the 59 latest projects announced LIFE DiVirtue, a three-year, €1.25 million digital training scheme will build capacity for a more efficient and creative building and construction industry sector.
