Brussels approves EUR 222m funding for green projects
LIFE support
(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission approved funding of some EUR 222.7 million Thursday for 144 new projects to support the EU's transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon future.
The support comes from the LIFE programme for the Environment and Climate Action. €323.5 million will go to projects in the field of environment and resource efficiency, nature and biodiversity and environmental governance and information.
The projects will help the EU deliver on the Paris agreement on climate change, said Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete: "These projects will create the right conditions to promote innovative solutions and spread best practices in reducing emission and adapting to climate change across the European Union. In this way they support the EU's implementation of the Paris Agreement," he said.
The LIFE programme's budget for 2014–2020 is set at €3.4 billion in current prices, and has a sub-programme for environment and a sub-programme for climate action.
A significant number of awards are granted to help EU Member States towards a more circular economy. Examples of recognised projects in 2016 include the new energy-saving hydrogen-electric garbage trucks in Belgium, technologies for reducing the health risks of sludge in waste water pioneered in Italy and a project to help Greek municipalities, such as Olympia, increase recycling rates.
In the field of climate action, the funding will support climate change adaptation, climate change mitigation and climate governance and information projects totalling €75.1 million. Selected projects support the EU's target to reduce GHG emissions by at least 40 % by 2030, contributing to the shift towards a low carbon and climate resilient economy.
Some examples of 2015 projects include restoration and carbon storage in peat lands in five EU countries (Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland), demonstration of the production of low-emission cement and concrete products in France, enhancing the climate resilience of vineyards in Germany and implementing adaptation measures in urban areas in Cyprus.
56 LIFE Environment & Resource Efficiency projects will mobilise €142.2 million, of which the EU will provide €71.9 million. These projects cover actions in five thematic areas: air, environment and health, resource efficiency, waste and water. The 21 resource efficiency projects alone will mobilise €43.0 million that will facilitate Europe's transition to a more circular economy.
39 LIFE Nature & Biodiversity projects support the implementation of the Birds and Habitats Directives and the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020. They have a total budget of €158.1 million, of which the EU will contribute €95.6 million.
15 LIFE Environmental Governance and Information projects will raise awareness on environmental matters. They have a total budget of €23.2 million, of which the EU will contribute €13.8 million.
16 LIFE Climate Change Adaptation projects will mobilise €32.9 million, of which the EU will provide €19.4 million. These action grants are awarded to projects in five thematic areas: agriculture/forestry/tourism, adaptation in mountain/island areas, urban adaptation/planning, vulnerability assessments/adaptation strategies, and water.
12 LIFE Climate Change Mitigation projects have a total budget of €35.3 million, of which the EU will contribute €18.0 million. These action grants are awarded to best practice, pilot and demonstration projects in three thematic areas: energy, industry and land use/forestry/agriculture.
6 LIFE Climate Governance and Information projects will improve governance and raise awareness of climate change. They have a total budget of €6.9 million, of which the EU will contribute €4.1 million.