The LIFE Program is the European Union's financial instrument dedicated to the co-financing of projects in the field of environmental protection, including nature, and human impact on climate and adaptation to climate change.

The basis for the creation of LIFE was the adoption of the Single European Act in 1986. Together with the Fifth Environmental Action Program (1993), these Acts contributed to the reform of the European nature conservation system and the LIFE Program became the only European Union financial mechanism entirely dedicated to environmental protection. During successive editions, the programme's structure has evolved to best meet the environmental objectives set for the EU countries and, since 2014, it included also a separate sub-programme for climate action.

The main objective of the LIFE Program is to support the implementation of Community environmental law, to implement EU environmental policy and to identify and promote new solutions to environmental and climate challenges.

SCOPE OF THE PROGRAM

The scope of the LIFE Program and the specific objectives of the priority areas:

Area ENVIRONMENT    

Sub-program:

*Nature and Biodiversity

*Circular Economy and Quality of Life

Area CLIMATE

Sub-program:

*Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

*Clean Energy Transition

TYPES OF PROJECTS

Under the current financial perspective of the LIFE Program 2021-2027, 5 types of LIFE projects are available. 

Definitions of project types from the Regulation:

(a) Strategic Nature Projects (SNAPs) - projects that advance the achievement of EU nature and biodiversity objectives through the implementation in Member States of coherent action programmes aimed at integrating these objectives and priorities into other policies and funding instruments, i.a. through the coordinated implementation of the Prioritised Action Frameworks adopted pursuant to Directive 92/43/EEC;

(b) Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPs) - projects that implement, on a regional, interregional, national or international scale, environmental or climate strategies or action plans drawn up by Member State authorities and required by specific legislation or EU policies on the environment, climate and relevant energy issues, and which ensure the simultaneous involvement of stakeholders, and foster the coordination of actions with and the mobilisation of resources from one or more other EU, national or private sources of funding;

(c) Technical Assistance Projects (TA projects) - projects which support capacity building for participation in projects on standard activities, preparation of strategic environmental projects and strategic integrated projects, preparation for access to other EU financial instruments or other measures necessary to prepare for the scale-up or the replication of other projects financed by the LIFE Program, its predecessors or other EU programmes, for the achievement of the objectives of the LIFE Program set out in Article 3; such projects may also include capacity building in relation to activities of Member States' authorities aiming at effective participation in the LIFE Program;

(d) Standard Action Projects (SAP) - projects, other than Strategic Integrated Projects, Strategic Nature Projects or Technical Assistance Projects, which aim to achieve specific objectives of the LIFE Programme.

FUNDING
In the Financial Perspective 2021-2027, the total budget for the LIFE Program is €5.432 billion, including €3.488 billion for Environment and €1.944 billion for Climate.
Standard LIFE project co-financing from the European Commission is up to 60% of the value of eligible costs, and up to 75% for nature projects (for projects focused on priority/endangered species and habitats). Polish applicants may additionally apply for co-financing of the project from the national funds of the NFOŚiGW co-financing the project up to 95% of eligible costs. Additionally, the NFOŚiGW makes available funds of up to PLN 80 000 for preparing and submitting applications to the LIFE Program. 


LIFE Program promotional spot prepared by NFOŚiGW:
Video with Polish subtitles 
Video with English subtitles