LIFE Products- Thematic lists

LIFE & Air Quality

There have been a total of 220 LIFE projects – with over €160 million allocated – exclusively on air quality. These have produced new technologies for controlling air pollution in various sectors such as urban mobility, agriculture and industry. The programme has also developed innovative air quality monitoring and modelling tools to help decision-makers better implement legislation. Lastly, LIFE projects have focused on raising public awareness and encouraging behavioural change for better air quality. Two successful LIFE projects are profiled in this facsheet, followed by a list of 14 other notable projects.

LIFE & Climate change adaptation

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 policy and legislation by co-financing pilot or demonstration projects with added value. Since its start in 1992, LIFE has been continuously co-funding innovative projects that help address the EU's transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy, strategically underpinning the implementation of the EU strategy on adaptation to climate change and demonstrating ways to meet the climate action challenges from now to 2030.

With more than 4 300 initiatives supported to date, some 200 projects have been exclusively on climate change adaptation – with a total allocation of €430 million. LIFE has thus tackled possible threats and hazardous events, making a significant contribution to the fight against climate change.

Of the many issues addressed by LIFE, there is a focus on practices and measures that promote resilient communities, safeguard natural resources, encourage protection of ecosystems and foster adaptive technologies for economic sectors that are vulnerable to climate change. LIFE has focused on forest fires and flood prevention measures and the application of the precautionary principle. It also made a particular contribution to the development and elaboration of hydrological and climate models as tools necessary to address water scarcity and droughts. Other projects supported by LIFE developed tools and novel technologies demonstrating realistic climate change scenarios for specific sites to enable impact and vulnerability assessments and suggest the most appropriate adaptation measures to protect biodiversity and improve urban and rural resilience.

Two such good LIFE practices are profiled here, and a list of 14 other projects is attached. Further details about these, plus more than 180 other climate change adaptation projects, can be found in the LIFE project database.

LIFE & Climate change mitigation

With more than 4300 initiatives supported to date, some 300 projects have produced positive climate change mitigation results – with a total allocation of €750 million. Thus, LIFE supports the shift towards a resource efficient, low-carbon and climate-resilient economy by demonstrating effective, cost effective and inclusive ways of mitigating the effects of climate change across a range of key sectors.

LIFE helps to develop, implement and demonstrate innovative renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies and methodologies. Moreover, the programme has co-financed sustainable transport projects, by promoting not only more climate-friendly fuel technologies for vehicles but also by pioneering sustainable urban mobility plans and city logistics. LIFE has also significantly contributed to the development of farming systems and practices to reduce carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide emissions through the supply of biomass for the production of bioenergy as well as the optimisation of livestock management, nitrogen application and precision farming. The restoration of wetlands and peatlands is also a valuable climate mitigation action that the programme has promoted.

Two successful LIFE projects are profiled below, followed by a list of 14 other notable projects. Further details about these, plus more than 280 other climate change mitigation projects, can be found in the LIFE project database:

LIFE & Urban resilience

With a total of more than 4 300 initiatives supported to date, the LIFE programme has co-funded nearly 150 climate change adaptation projects, investing €307 million. Of the 32 projects focused on urban resilience, a small cluster initially demonstrated the adaptive potential of 'green infrastructure', including the ability of green roofs or sustainable urban drainage systems to reduce storm water run-off and the positive effects of requalifying green areas and creating green belts and corridors in peri-urban areas.

More recently, the scope of LIFE projects funded has shifted to integrated, ecosystem-based solutions for whole districts or even whole cities by incorporating green and blue infrastructure in local planning as well as stimulating the collective participation of citizens and local businesses. It enables the development of innovative adaptation technologies within the water, energy and construction sectors and increases the focus on health-related issues. Two such good LIFE practices are profiled here alongside a list of 14 other projects. Further details about these can be found in the LIFE project database: ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/life/project/Projects/.

LIFE & Local and Regional Authorities

Local and regional authorities (LRAs) face significant environmental challenges in areas as diverse as spatial planning, transport planning, waste management, water management and climate change. They have an important role to play in their citizen's quality
of life (air quality, noise reduction, green infrastructure & biodiversity) and can also bring their support to developing the circular economy.

To date, LRAs have led around 560 LIFE Environment, Information or Climate co-funded projects, and partnered with other beneficiaries in over 430 more.

Two good practice LIFE projects are profiled below, followed by a list of eight other notable projects. Further details about all LIFE projects can be found in the LIFE project database.

LIFE & Electrical and electronic waste management (WEEE)

Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) such as computers, TV-sets, fridges and cell phones is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the EU and is expected to rise to over 12 million tonnes by 2020.

WEEE is a complex mixture of materials and components that, because of their hazardous content and if not properly managed, can cause major environmental and health problems.

Around 50 LIFE projects have focused on WEEE management and prevention. These projects have provided novel approaches that have helped implement the EU's WEEE legislation (Directive 2002/96 and Directive 2012/19) and develop the circular economy.LIFE projects have contributed with new solutions to raising awareness among the general public on the need for appropriate WEEE collection, testing re-use possibilities; optimising treatment and recycling; making the most of recovered material and components; developing quality standards and evaluation; providing training to professionals; and developing information systems and exchange.

Two good practice LIFE projects are profiled below, followed by a list of eight other notable projects. Further details about all the LIFE WEEE projects can be found in the LIFE project database.

LIFE & Bioenergy

LIFE projects have developed and demonstrated new technologies and methodologies to exploit renewable energy sources. The latter facilitates the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and demonstrates ways of reducing the EU’s dependence on imported energy. Of the many energy-related projects supported by LIFE to date, some 80 projects exclusively deal with bioenergy in order to replace fossil fuels with sustainable biofuels or bioliquids.

The LIFE programme has supported a wide range of biogas-related projects that demonstrate innovative anaerobic digestion and gasification techniques to produce biogas from biodegradable waste – e.g. municipal solid waste, manure and slurry – to produce heat and power. Furthermore, LIFE has backed projects which develop pioneer technologies for biomethane production either for injection into a natural gas pipeline or for usage as a fuel for vehicles. Some projects have also dealt with state of the art techniques for the capture and use of methane from landfills to generate heat and electricity.

The programme also supported sustainably-harvested biomass from Natura 2000 sites or abandoned agricultural and industrial sites to generate heat and electricity. Other projects produced high-quality pellets from the
sustainable use of logging residues. Finally, LIFE currently supports projects on the development strategies of ‘third-generation’ biofuels, in order to investigate various algal cultivation methods and their potential application in biofuel refineries.

Two successful LIFE projects are profiled below, followed by a list of 14 other notable projects

LIFE & Environmental certification

The LIFE Programme is the EU's funding instrument for the environment and climate action. Since 1992 it has co-financed pilot and demonstration projects that contribute to the implementation and development of EU environment policy and legislation. LIFE has supported public authorities and the private sector in developing environmental management schemes and raising awareness to decrease the impact of their activities. LIFE has helped identify barriers to uptake and pioneered the implementation of EU Ecolabel and EMAS procedures and other green certification in diverse public and private sector contexts.

Of the 4 171 projects supported by LIFE to date, 139 specifically deal with environmental certification (Ecolabel, EMAS, ISO14000, ETV, etc), mobilising a total budget of some 150 million euros. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have coordinated the majority of these projects. These enterprises come from a range of manufacturing and service sectors, including: marine aquaculture, wine production, tourism, agriculture, horticulture, cleaning products, printing, retail, sport and events and hospitals.

Two successful environmental labelling LIFE projects are profiled below, followed by a list of 14 other notable projects.

LIFE & Water

There have been over 900 LIFE projects exclusively on water. These have provided integrated approaches that have helped water authorities to adopt good water management solutions aimed at meeting the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive. LIFE projects have contributed new solutions for optimising water use in different sectors, ensuring water quality, developing cost analysis methodologies and water pricing services, and upscaling methods of monitoring and planning water resources.

The programme has also helped link water management to other policy sectors, such as agriculture and energy. LIFE has helped conserve freshwater habitats and has contributed significantly to the management of river basins and water levels, restoration of floodplains and river ecosystems, habitat connectivity, the involvement of stakeholders and improving public awareness. In addition, LIFE has supported the fight against climate change, especially with regard to water scarcity and issues around natural water hazards.

LIFE & the Marine and Coastal environment

Of the 3 956 projects supported by LIFE to date, 366 have targeted marine and coastal environment sites, with a total LIFE allocation of almost €300 million and the mobilisation of a further €623 million from other public and private contributions. This continuous source of financing is supporting the objectives of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, which aims to achieve good environmental status of the EU's marine waters by 2020.

LIFE has contributed to the conservation of highly endangered marine species and habitats, as well as the establishment of the Natura 2000 Network in the marine environment, thus promoting the implementation of the Habitat and Birds Directives on the European seas and oceans.
LIFE is also one of the main EU funding instruments supporting Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), enhancing the correct use and protection of coastal and marine resources and reducing the environmental impact of many sectors operating in marine and coastal areas such as agriculture, harbours, shipping, tourism, fisheries and aquaculture.

Factsheet: LIFE & Environmental education

Of the 4 171 projects supported by LIFE to date, 207 have organised specific educative activities and developed material for environmental education, targeting schoolchildren, young people, teachers and/or families; many of them are Nature and Biodiveristy projects.

The launch of the LIFE Information and Communication strand in 2007 has increased opportunities for awareness-raising campaigns and knowledge-sharing projects. Many of these have developed interesting and creative tools of pedagogic interest, in addition to targeting the wider public.

Factsheet: LIFE & Energy Sustainability

Since 1992, LIFE has contributed to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental policy and legislation by co-financing pilot or demonstration projects with European added value. In the Energy Sustainability field, LIFE has been continuously supporting innovative projects that upgrade energy technologies and processes - both in the public and private sectors - all over the EU.

Factsheet: LIFE & Energy Efficiency

Since 1992, LIFE has contributed to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental policy and legislation by co-financing pilot or demonstration projects with European added value. In the Energy field, LIFE has been continuously supporting innovative projects that upgrade energy technologies and processes - both in the public and private sectors - all over the EU.

Factsheet: LIFE & Renewable Energies

Since 1992, LIFE has contributed to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental policy and legislation by co-financing pilot or demonstration projects with European added value. In the Energy field, LIFE has been continuously supporting innovative projects that upgrade energy technologies and processes - both in the public and private sectors - all over the EU.

Factsheet: LIFE & Waste Management

Since its start in 1992, LIFE has been continuously co-funding innovative projects that upgrade waste recycling technologies and processes in a wide variety of industrial sectors all over Europe. Out of the 4 772 initiatives supported by LIFE to date, 732 have been exclusively on waste with more than 540 million euros allocated. In fact, waste and recycling is the most popular theme tackled by the Programme.

Amongst the issues tackled by LIFE, the Programme has focused in particular on demonstrating innovative technologies for recycling specific materials from different waste streams such as hazardous, agricultural or municipal waste. LIFE has also done much to link waste management to other environmental topics such as climate change or the protection of water resources. Finally, LIFE has also actively contributed to waste prevention by raising public awareness, promoting the exchange of knowledge and developing information tools for better waste management.