LIFE celebrates its 30th anniversary

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been thirty years since the European Union gave shape in 1992 to the only funding instrument focused exclusively on environment and climate action: the LIFE Programme.

In its three decades of existence, the LIFE Programme has co-financed more than 5,000 projects that have developed innovative methods and approaches to achieve the EU’s environmental and climate objectives.

The LIFE Programme is managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), which also plays an important role in achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal.

The LIFE Programme structures its objectives in seven-year periods, and for the period 2021-2027 it has a financial envelope of 5,432,000 euros.

The four LIFE sub-programmes

Europe is moving towards sustainability and to assist it in this process, the LIFE Programme is structured in four action areas or sub-programmes:

· Nature and biodiversity, to contribute to the objectives set out in the EU Biodiversity Strategy and with specific measures to conserve nature and safeguard species.

· Circular economy and quality of life, with seven priorities in areas such as waste, air, water, soil, noise, chemicals, and environmental governance.

· Climate change mitigation and adaptation, to reduce greenhouse gases and prepare cities and regions for climate change.

· Clean energy transition, with five priorities focused on obtaining funding and involving citizens and all types of actors in the energy transition.

LIFE 2022 Call for proposals

The LIFE 2022 call for proposals was published on 17 May, with a budget of 598 million euros to be distributed among its four sub-programmes: nature and biodiversity (242 million euros); circular economy and quality of life (158 million euros); mitigation and adaptation to climate change (99 million euros) and transition to clean energy (98 million euros).

In Kaila, you can find detailed information on the 32 calls, with closures in September, October, November 2022, and March 2023. And of course, we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the LIFE Programme on its 30th anniversary and to toast all the people who contribute to improving our environment. Here’s to many more successes!