The European Commission has approved an investment package of €222.7 million from the EU budget to support Europe's transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon future. The EU funding will spur additional investments leading to a total of €398.6 to be invested into 144 new projects in 23 Member State.
The support comes from the LIFE programme for the Environment and Climate Action.
EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Cañete said: "With the Paris Agreement now entering into force, we must focus on delivering on our promises. 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."
In the field of climate action, the investment 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 peatlands 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.
The 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.
The 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.
The 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.
Background
The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. It has been running since 1992 and has co-financed more than 4 300 projects across the EU and in third countries, mobilising € 8.8 billion and contributing € 3.9 billion to the protection of the environment and climate. At any given moment some 1100 projects are ongoing. The budget for the LIFE Programme 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.
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Details
- Publication date
- 3 November 2016
- Author
- Directorate-General for Climate Action