You need nature to survive. And nature requires you to protect it, put an end to its destruction, and allow it to restore. The EU LIFE programme is leading this race against time in Europe to help protect nature before climate change becomes irreversible.
Bringing nature back is of utmost importance for the planet as we humans are dependent on it. We live in and by nature, and it is our duty to preserve our home. But it is not only about us humans; climate change and the destruction of the environment also affect the animals and plants that we share our home with.
Scientists warn that this unsustainable pattern of economic growth caused by our greedy nature needs to stop before it's too late.
However, apart from our greedy nature, humans are also full of resourcefulness that, if put to good use it can do wonders. The good news is that there is still a small window of opportunity to bring nature back by taking the necessary measures.
The LIFE Programme for the environment and climate action, as part of the European Green Deal, will provide the necessary EU funding to put sustainability at the heart of Europe. Additionally, the EU LIFE programme will support the European recovery to make Europe a global sustainability champion who leads by example.
Let us see more in detail why nature needs a dedicated LIFE Programme for environment and climate action and how it can make a difference.
Natural Disasters in 2021
The total number of natural disasters that have happened already in 2021 makes evident the importance to deal with climate change. Extreme weather conditions and various phenomena with catastrophic results have become the norm, with severe consequences on human lives and billions of Euros in damages every year.
Recent examples of natural disasters in 2021 are the July deadly floods in Germany and Belgium and the wildfires in Northern Euboea, Greece, that burned for several days ravaging small villages and a unique forest ecosystem.
The floods had a total death count of about 200 fellow European citzinens, while whole towns and infrastructure were wiped away by the strong currents.
And that begs the question, if Germany, one of the wealthiest and most technologically advanced countries in the world, could not prevent such damage, what would that mean for the rest of the world?
On the other hand, wildfires in Northern Euboea created the biggest ecological destruction in Greek history that destroyed more than 120.000 acres of pine forest and left countless animals dead. On top of that, many locals lost their homes and businesses are left hanging with uncertainty for the future.
LIFE programme can potentially create solutions to many of those problems to avoid similar disasters going forward.
How EU LIFE Programme can change the European situation
LIFE Programme for environment and climate action is the dedicated programme of the European Union. Its mission is to respond to the climate crisis and protect Europe's unique ecosystems and biodiversity. EU LIFE Programme will run from 2021 to 2027 providing support and funding to EU projects to protect the environment.
The priorities of LIFE programme funding for the following years will target projects in:
- Nature and biodiversity
- Circular economy and quality of life
- Climate mitigation and adaptation
- Clean energy transition
The EU LIFE Programme has already issued several calls for EU funding projects on climate action with a significantly increased budget since the last programming period. Many of those LIFE calls fund EU projects on various topics like clean energy, biodiversity protection or green building renovations.
The road to a climate-neutral Europe, as is the ultimate goal of the European Green Deal, is not easy and requires change and innovations on so many levels.
Protecting the European ecosystems, reducing the carbon footprint, or increasing the number of carbon sinks need different approaches to become a reality. But all these are aspects of the same coin that work together to ensure a sustainable and safe future for the next generations.
To find all the available EU LIFE Programme calls, become a member of EUcalls to find them all in one place. Using our advanced filter options, you can find the calls that best suit your organization's interests and funding needs.
The environment needs protection, and, with Europe's support, your EU project can make a difference.
