(Finance) – The European Commission has made it known that today it is investing further 233 million euros in twelve new strategic projects across Europe as part of the LIFE program to support the implementation of ambitions environmental And climatic of the EU under the European Green Deal. These strategic projects are expected to mobilize significant additional funds from other EU sources, including agricultural, structural, regional and research funds, as well as from investments from national governments and the private sector.
THE financing granted to these twelve strategic projects will support Bulgaria, Czechia, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Lithuania, Austria, Poland and Finland in achieving their national environmental and climate by increasing their contributions to the EU’s green transition, the Commission highlighted in a statement.
As regards the environment, the strategic nature protection projects (SNAP) selected under the LIFE program and integrated strategic projects will benefit marine ecosystems with plans to designate at least 30% of Ireland’s marine territories as marine protected areas by 2030 (MPA-LIFE-IRELAND). They will also improve air quality in the Polish Subcarpathian region, while reducing energy poverty and increasing energy efficiency (LIFE Subcarpathia); improve water quality and management in Lithuania (LIFE SIP Vanduo).
Six other projects to promote nature and biodiversity were also selected. In Finland, Prioriversity LIFE aims to implement regional biodiversity action plans and build capacity. In northern Italy LIFE NatConnect2030 will take action at over 500 sites to improve biodiversity and strengthen ecological corridors. LIFE SNAP Ireland will address barriers to the implementation of Ireland’s Natura 2000 priority action fund. The French national biodiversity strategy will involve local authorities and mobilize citizens to promote change in the way we live and produce through LIFE BIODIVFr. In the Czech Republic PERSPECTIVES LIFE will implement “active species conservation tools” to help reverse the decline of at least 25 species. Finally, in Austria LIFE Love aims to restore over 1,400 hectares of peatland, including 13 different habitats and 37 species of high conservation value.
Regarding climate change, the project ACE LIFE will help Finland become carbon neutral by 2035 by reducing emissions from agriculture, heavy transport and machinery and phasing out fossil fuels used by small and medium-sized businesses in industrial processes. LIFE PYRENEES4CLIMA is a cross-border project between Spain, France and Andorra aimed at accelerating adaptation to climate change in the Pyrenees by improving knowledge and capacity to cope with the impact of climate change on nature, people and the economy. Finally, in Bulgaria, LIFE-SIP CLIMA-SUMP will implement sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs) in six municipalities to help achieve zero-emission mobility on the road to climate neutrality.