Whats’s LIFE

The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental and climate policy and legislation by co-financing projects with European added value. LIFE began in 1992 and until now it has co-financed about 4,000 projects across the EU, contributing with more than 3 billion € to the protection of the environment. The European Commission manages the LIFE programme but the implementation of many components of the LIFE programme were delegated to the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME).

In the current phase (2014-2020) two sub-programmes were created:

  • LIFE sub-programme for Environment, including as priorities areas environment and resource efficiency, nature and biodiversity, and governance and information;
  • LIFE sub-programme for Climate Action, including as priorities areas adaptation, mitigation and governance and information.

The foreseen total budget for the current phase is €3,456.7 million (€2,592.5 for Environment sub-programme and €864.2 for Climate Actions sub-programme).

For more details, see: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/index.htm