The European Commission has announced an investment of €103 million in seven strategic environment and climate projects across Europe, funded under the LIFE programme.
In a statement, the Commission said that the projects, which are located in Finland, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain, will ‘contribute to strengthening the EU’s prosperity, reinforcing economic stability, food systems and environmental ecosystems, while also improving public health and quality of life across the continent’.
The seven projects each address region-specific environmental challenges, and focus on areas such as climate and water resilience, nature restoration, circular economy and sustainable land use.
“Long-term strategic LIFE projects are essential to deliver a secure and sustainable Europe,” commented Jessika Roswall, commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy. “Today’s investment strengthens Europe’s natural infrastructure – the foundation of our economic security, competitiveness and resilience.
About the projects
In Finland, the ACWA LIFE project will seek to restore streams, lakes, coastal waters, and groundwater systems, receiving €16.5 million in EU support, while the LIFE ADAPT EST project will strengthen climate resilience in the Grand Est region of France, receiving €15.6 million.
In Greece, the LIFE SIP GR Blue project, which will receive funding of €8.9 million, will seek to restore marine ecosystems, while the Netherlands will see €6.9 million granted to CEL4LIFE, which will support Limburg’s transition to a circular economy.
In Slovakia, the NatAdaptSK project will utilise nature-based solutions to manage water, forests, agriculture, and biodiversity risks, receiving €10.1 million in funding, while in Portugal, the LIFE IP AGRILOOP project will implement circular economy solutions in the Azores, receiving €15.8 million in support.
Finally, in Spain, the LIFE HumedalES project aims to restore around 26,200 hectares of wetlands, enhancing flood protection, water security, and biodiversity. Receiving €29.7 million in funding, it is the largest project financed to date under the LIFE Programme.
‘Essential for our economy’
“The cost of inaction keeps rising,” commented Wopke Hoekstra, commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth. “Investing in climate is not optional – it is essential for our economy, our security and our independence. The business case for accelerating the clean transition is clear and these Strategic LIFE projects are investments that adds on towards our climate goals.”
Since its foundation in 1992, the LIFE Programme has co-financed over 6,500 project, with the recent supports forming part of a wider €5.43 billion budget assigned to the programme under the 2021-2027 EU long-term budget. Read more here.
