EU Invests Over €380 Million In LIFE Projects To Drive Green Transition Across Europe

The European Commission has announced more than €380 million in funding for 133 new projects across Europe under the LIFE Programme, which focuses on environmental and climate action. This funding is part of a larger investment of €574 million, with the rest of the funds coming from national and regional governments, public-private partnerships, businesses, and civil society organizations. These projects are a key part of the EU’s efforts to meet its Green Deal targets, including becoming climate-neutral by 2050 and stopping biodiversity loss by 2030.

LIFE projects aim to improve environmental protection, climate resilience, and the well-being of European citizens. The projects will focus on areas such as the circular economy, biodiversity, climate action, and clean energy. €143 million has been allocated for circular economy projects, of which the EU will contribute €74 million. These 26 projects will address issues like water use, waste reduction, air and noise pollution, and recycling. One example is the LIFE GRAPhiREC project in Italy, which will recycle graphite from battery waste. With a budget of €7.5 million, the project is expected to generate €23.4 million in revenue and save €25 million in production costs. Another example is Spain’s LIFE POLITEX project, which will convert textile waste into new textiles to reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry.

For nature and biodiversity projects, €216 million has been allocated, with the EU contributing €144.5 million. These projects will help restore ecosystems and improve the conservation of various species, including birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. One of the key projects are LIFE4AquaticWarbler and LIFE AWOM, which aim to save the rare aquatic warbler bird. This project involves multiple countries including Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, and Poland, with a combined budget of nearly €24 million. In Hungary, the Biodiverse City LIFE project, with a budget of €3.6 million, will promote the peaceful coexistence of nature and urban life in Budapest.

In terms of climate action, €110 million has been set aside, with the EU providing nearly €62 million for projects aimed at improving climate resilience, mitigation, and governance. The IMAGE LIFE and LIFE VINOSHIELD projects, with a combined budget of €6.8 million, will help vineyards in Spain, France, and Italy become more resilient to extreme weather. These projects will protect vineyards that produce famous wines like Parmigiano Reggiano, Camembert de Normandie, and Roquefort. Additionally, Siemens is leading the LIFE BLUE 420 kV GIS project in Belgium, which has a budget of €6.9 million, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electrical circuit breakers.

To support the clean energy transition, €105 million has been allocated, with €99 million from the EU. Among the projects is LIFE DiVirtue, a three-year, €1.25 million digital training scheme that uses virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to help students and professionals in the building and construction sector deliver zero-emission buildings across Bulgaria, Czechia, Greece, Croatia, and Romania. Another project, ENERCOM FACILITY, will receive almost €10 million to support 140 emerging energy communities across Europe, helping them develop sustainable energy business models.

Since its inception 32 years ago, the LIFE Programme has co-financed over 6,000 environmental and climate action projects across the EU. The 133 projects announced were selected from over 653 applications submitted under the LIFE 2023 call for proposals. The European Commission has increased funding for the LIFE Programme by almost 60% for the 2021-2027 period, bringing the total to over €5.43 billion. The grants under the programme are managed by CINEA, the European Climate Infrastructure, and Environment Executive Agency.