What is the programme LIFE?
The LIFE Programme is the European Union’s only financial instrument dedicated exclusively to the environment. Its overall objective for the period 2014-2020, with an allocated budget of €3.4 billion, is to contribute to sustainable development and to the achievement of the objectives and targets of the Europe 2020 Strategy and relevant EU environment and climate strategies and plans. This programme is divided into 2 sub-programmes: one for environment, which represents 75% of the total funding, and one for climate change, with 25% of the budget.
SUBPROGRAMS
ENVIRONMENT
CLIMATE
Environment
Climate
Budget:
2,592 million
Beneficiaries:
Consortium between public and private bodies at local level: county councils, town councils, universities, public or private companies (including SMEs) and associations. Start-ups and entrepreneurs can also apply for support.
Environment and Resource Efficiency Priority (deadline 14 July)
It focuses on projects with an interest in developing, testing and demonstrating policy or management approaches, best practices and solutions, including the development and demonstration of innovative technologies, to environmental challenges, which are suitable for replication, transfer or integration, including as regards the relationship between environment and health, and in support of policy and legislation related to resource efficiency, including the Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe.
Nature and Biodiversity Priority Area (deadline 16 July)
Focuses on contributing to the development and implementation of EU policy and legislation in the area of nature and biodiversity. This is encompassed within the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 and the Birds and Habitats Directive; supporting the development, implementation and management of the Natura 2000 network; and improving the knowledge base for the development, implementation, assessment, monitoring and evaluation of EU policy and legislation in the area of nature and biodiversity, as well as for assessing and monitoring what directly influences nature and biodiversity.
Priority area of Environmental Governance and Information (deadline 16 July)
It supports information, communication and awareness-raising campaigns in line with the priorities of the 7th Environment Action Programme; as well as activities in support of the effective monitoring process, as well as measures to promote compliance with EU environmental legislation, and in support of information systems and reporting tools on the implementation of EU environmental legislation.
Budget:
864 million.
Beneficiaries:
Consortium between public and private bodies at local level: county councils, town councils, universities, public or private companies (including SMEs) and associations. Start-ups and entrepreneurs can also apply for support.
Priority Climate Change Mitigation (deadline 6 October)
Contribute to the implementation and development of Union climate change mitigation policy and legislation, including its integration into all policy areas, in particular through the development, testing and demonstration of policy or management approaches, best practices and solutions to mitigate climate change. Facilitate the development and implementation of integrated approaches, e.g. in climate change mitigation strategies and action plans at local, regional or national level. Contribute to the development and demonstration of innovative climate change mitigation technologies, systems, methods and tools that are suitable for replication, transfer or mainstreaming.
Climate Change Adaptation Priority Area (deadline 6 October)
Contribute to the development and implementation of Union policy on adaptation to climate change, including its integration into all policy areas, in particular through the development, testing and demonstration of policy or management approaches, best practices and solutions for adaptation to climate change, including, where appropriate, ecosystem-based approaches. Facilitate the development and implementation of integrated approaches, for example in climate change adaptation strategies and action plans at local, regional or national level, giving priority to ecosystem approaches where appropriate. Contribute to the development and demonstration of innovative climate change adaptation technologies, systems, methods and tools that are suitable for replication, transfer or mainstreaming.
Climate Governance and Information Priority Area (deadline 6 October)
Promote climate awareness, e.g. by building public and stakeholder support for the development of EU climate policies, and promote knowledge on sustainable development. Facilitate communication, management and dissemination of information in the climate field, and facilitate knowledge sharing on successful climate solutions and practices. Promote and contribute to improving effective compliance with and enforcement of EU climate legislation. Promote better climate governance by encouraging the participation of stakeholders, including NGOs, in policy consultation and implementation.
EXAMPLES +20 LIFE PPROJECTS
LIFE ECOdigestion 2.0
The main objectives of this second project are the development of a commercial version of the tool, improving its accessibility and calculation process, as well as including new modules that increase its features.
This new version of the software will be tested in a pilot plant (used in the previous project) and will be demonstrated in an operational environment under different operating conditions and substrate used (with several international partners), in order to cover the different cases that can occur in the co-digestion of substrates in EDARLIFE EcoDigestion 2. 0 is the continuation of the LIFE EcoDigestion project in which a tool was developed for the automated control of co-substrate dosing in anaerobic digesters in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), with the aim of achieving energy self-sufficiency in wastewater treatment. These objectives are achieved by ensuring the stability of the process and, therefore, the sanitisation of the resulting sludge.
Sink
To demonstrate how the “artificial substrates” developed (also called technological, amendments or techno-soils), coming from the valorisation of “non-hazardous waste”, by means of specific formulations studied, are capable of reducing NOx (nitrogen oxide) pollution in cities or areas with a high degree of pollution, and their commercialisation is viable for the reduction of atmospheric pollution and improvement of the properties of the soils where they are applied.
SO1. Design and development of “artificial substrates” created using non-hazardous waste for NOx capture and soil composting.
SO2. Development of a “pilot project” in a real and scalable environment (from initial TRL6 to TRL9) in 4 test plots and 1 reference plot (both in Spain and Portugal), for the monitoring of NOx uptake in the atmosphere and soil nitrates.
SO3. Study of the state of the art on the current legislation on the use of Non-Hazardous Waste (NHW); and improvement of the mechanisms of the legal regulatory framework for NHW.
HTWT
The HTWT project aimed to develop a comprehensive management plan for the collection and treatment of end-of-life displays and monitors and to develop an industrial prototype for the treatment of LCDs, LEDs, plasma screens and photovoltaic panels. This was to be tested on different types of screens and devices to identify suitable treatment processes and deliver reusable materials.
The technology HTWT planned to use was an induction coil that would transmit heat to the metallic elements of the display, such as connectors, plates, terminals, screws, wires and tracks, in order to melt the thermoplastic components (insulation, adhesives). The melting of the thermoplastic materials would facilitate the separation of the components, reducing the time needed to disassemble the displays and reducing the risk of damage to environmentally sensitive components. The project was expected to increase the recovery and recycling of display and monitor materials, thereby reducing the amount of hazardous waste sent to landfills and reducing the consumption of raw materials in the electronics sector.
