The Commission announced an investment of over €116 million for the new LIFE Programme’s Strategic Projects. The funding will help eight major projects in Belgium, Estonia, Spain, Italy, Poland, Slovakia and Finland reach their climate and environmental targets. The projects are expected to mobilise significant additional funds from other EU funding sources, including agricultural, structural, regional and research funds, in addition to national funds and private sector investment.

The projects will help Europe become the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050 and successfully implement the European Green Deal. They also support the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Circular Economy Action Plan, the Zero Pollution Action Plan, the Nature Restoration Law and contribute to a clean energy transition.

Eight major projects in seven Member States

The projects cover the following areas:

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Nature conservation and restoration: In Belgium, partners in B4B LIFE will enlarge protected areas, improve connectivity and develop action plans for critical habitats and species across the country. The Wetlands Green LIFE team will help implement EU policy on protected areas and the habitats and species they support in Poland. The focus will be on marshes, peatlands and wetlands across various Natura 2000 sites. Both projects also support the implementation of the EU Birds and Habitats Habitats Directives. Directives.

Water quality and waste management: LIFE Living Rivers in Slovakia will maintain water quality, protect natural habitats and native species, and promote sustainable forestry and fisheries management. The project will contribute to the implementation of the EU’s Water Framework Directive and the Habitats Directive. The team behind PlastLIFE will help implement the Plastic Roadmap for Finland. Work will include reducing plastic litter, decreasing waste and plastic consumption, and boosting recycling.

Climate change adaptation: Estonia‘s LIFE-SIP AdaptEs project team will increase the country’s capacity for climate change adaptation by helping implement its ‘Development Plan for Climate Change Adaptation’. In Spain, the LIFE eCOadapt50 project will raise awareness of climate change adaptation by involving governments and businesses in local Climate Adaptation strategies. Partners in Italy‘s LIFE Climax PO will test climate-smart water management at the river basin scale and improve the governance of water resource management. These three projects support the implementation of the EU’s Adaptation Strategy.

Climate change mitigation: the LIFE AFTER COAL PL team will help implement Poland‘s ‘Strategy for Climate Neutrality Eastern Wielkopolska 2040’ (RSCN) with a particular focus on the utility and transport sectors. This project aligns with the EU’s Climate Law.