LIFE Programme for the Environment and Climate Action

LIFE Programme for the Environment and Climate Action Jean-Claude Merciol Head of unit ENV. A. 4.

LIFE = a solid brand • Around 5. 000 projects supported in 25 years • LIFE contributes towards a resource-efficient, lowcarbon and climate-resilient economy while protecting / improving the environment, maintaining and improving biodiversity, ecosystems and, in particular, the Natura 2000 network • Strong support to birds & habitats directives since the beginning • Recognized by the Fitness check of the Birds & Habitat directives • Budget 2014 -2020: € 3, 456. 7 million

The new context and the European Commission proposals Increasing challenges: • alarming news on biodiversity decline (IPBES) • EU citizens mobilisation at all level • Tremendous changes needed: in production, consumption, education Commission intentions: • New Green Deal, • New Biodiversity strategy 2030, • Climate law on climate neutrality

PROGRAMME FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE ACTION (LIFE) Building on 25 years of success: § Total budget of € 5. 45 billion = an increase of almost € 2 billion from the present LIFE § Reinforcing the programme's strengths § Improving coherence, efficiency and effectiveness Sub-programmes 1 2. 15 0. 95 1. 35 Nature & Biodiversity Circular Economy & Quality of Life Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation Clean Energy Transition

New / Enhanced Elements: § New Clean Energy Transition sub-programme § Dedicated sub-programme for Nature and Biodiversity including new Strategic Nature Projects § Expanded use of Strategic Integrated Projects § Greater flexibility to target key and emerging issues § Increased support to LIFE National Focal Points to build capacity for programme access across all MS

State of play of negotiations: § Compromise reached - 1 rst reading on 17. 04. 2014 most of the provisions agreed § Types of projects: Strategic Integrated Projects, Strategic Nature Projects, technical assistance projects, standard action projects, "other actions" § Maximum % of co-financing : 60% in general, 70% for NGO support, 75% for nature and biodiversity, 75 -95% for capacity building for Member States, not specified for other actions

State of play of negotiations: § Remains to be agreed: budget, horizontal issues § Start of the programme implementation : 01. 2021 § Multi Annual Work Programme: • at least two • no priority topics in the regulation • project topics or specific needs for which preallocation of funds is foreseen

State of play Programme: of Multi Annual Work § MAWP implementation : 01. 2021 § Involvement of Stakeholders: regular contacts, public opinion survey, LIFE workshop in November § LIFE committee involvement § Support Member States for mainstreaming an Strategic Nature Projects (SNa. P)

LIFE website https: //ec. europa. eu/easme/en/life