SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

1. SUSTAINABLE GROWTH LIFE 2014-2020

2. OBJECTIVES • To contribute to the shift towards a resource-efficient, low-carbon and climate resilient economy, to the protection and improvement of the quality of the environment and to halting and reversing biodiversity loss; • To improve the development, implementation and enforcement of Union environmental and climate policy and legislation, and to catalyse and promote integration and mainstreaming of environmental and climate objectives into other Union policies and public and private sector practice, including by increasing their capacity; • To support better environmental and climate governance at all levels.

3. OBJECTIVES • The only EU financial instrument specifically targeting the environment. • Since 1992, financed over 3100 projects contributing to over €2.7 billion to the protection of the environment. • Public authorities and development agencies are lead beneficiaries in LIFE+ (42% in 2007-2008).

4. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE Two sub-programmes: LIFE sub-programme for Environment • Environment and Resource Efficiency • Biodiversity • Environmental Governance and Information LIFE sub-programme for Climate Action • Climate Change Mitigation • Climate Change Adaptation • Climate Governance and Information

5. ACTIVITIESLIFE sub-programme for Environment Environment & Resource Efficiency : • Development, testing and demonstration of policy approaches, best practices and solutions to environmental problems; • Shift focus towards implementation through Integrated Projects (waste, water, air); • Includes a specific objective in relation to Resource efficiency; • Private sector oriented market-replication excluded (to be covered under Horizon 2020).

6. ACTIVITIESLIFE sub-programme for Environment Biodiversity: • Focused on Natura2000 (in particular Integrated Projects to implement Prioritised Action Frameworks); • and the implementation of EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020; • Best practice and demonstration for nature and biodiversity • 50% of resources allocated to projects under the sub-programme for Environment

7. ACTIVITIESLIFE sub-programme for Environment Environmental Governance & Information: • Supports information and awareness raising projects and activities and facilitates knowledge sharing; • Supports cooperation networks, and best practices for enforcement and compliance; • Promotes better governance and supports environmental NGOs.

8. ACTIVITIES Climate Action sub-programme • Three priority areas • Climate Change Mitigation • Climate Change Adaptation • Climate Governance and Information Specific objectives: • Implement and develop Union policy and legislation and mainstream activities across policy areas • Improving and apply knowledge base in practice • Develop and implement integrated strategies and action plans • Develop and demonstrate innovative technologies, systems, methods and instruments for replication, transfer or mainstreaming

9. ACTIVITIES • Example: NATURA 2000 in Slovenia • Slovenia has developed a national Management Plan for Natura 2000. It is considering the idea of an IP, building on a previous LIFE project: • A previous LIFE project led to a transnational co-operation between different actors and different sectors • Slovenia is developing legislation to ensure that IP are feasible • Benefits: • Combining activities and different funding sources is considered to provide a real opportunity to bring together economic, social and environmental objectives leading to enhanced results. • Practicalities: • One single regulation and one set of guidelines would be required to cover administrative and reporting aspects across all funding instruments. • To ensure IP are feasible it is essential that there is a strong project design phase with rigorous and detailed preparation which agree priorities across funding instruments.

10. PARTICIPATION ELIGIBILE COUNTRIES • Acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidates, in accordance with the conditions laid down in the respective bilateral or multilateral agreements establishing the general principles for their participation in Union programmes.. TARGET GROUPS • The LIFE Programme may fund public and private bodies: research centres, local and regional authorities, states´ administrations, agencies chambers, development NGOs, SMEs, universities, associations

11. PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PROCEDURE • Applications are done through calls of proposals announced by the EC. • Action grants may finance the following projects: • (a) pilot projects; • (b) demonstration projects; • (c) best practice projects; • (d) integrated projects primarily in the areas of nature, water, waste, air, andclimate change mitigation and adaptation; • (e) technical assistance projects; • (f) preparatory projects; • (g) information, awareness and dissemination projects; • (h) any other projects needed for the purpose of achieving the objectives. • Operating grants shall support certain operational and administrative costs of non-profit making entities.

12. PARTICIPATION SELECTION PROCEDURE • LIFE Programme is centrally managed by the Commission • The Commission will explore the possibility of delegating to a large extent the selection and monitoring tasks to the European Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation, while keeping the governance of the LIFE Programme within the Commission. • Grants are subject to annual programming. The work programme fixes the broad outlines of the grants that are envisaged over the year (area of activity, objectives, timetable, available budget, award conditions, etc.).

13. PARTICIPATION Where to find information at EU-level • http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/ • http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/about/beyond2013.htm