The LIFE Programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. The general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental and climate policy and legislation by co-financing projects with European added value. After 22 years, €3.4 billion and 4.170 projects, the LIFE Programme continues to finance actions for the environment and climate action.
The aim is to facilitate the transition toward a sustainable, circular, toxic-free, energy efficient/climate-resilient economy and toward a toxic-free environment as well as to protect, restore and improve the quality of the environment.
The specific objective is to cover one or more of the following topics:
ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIONS’ DECISION-MAKING AND VOLUNTARY APPROACHES:
Improving the capacity of public administration to implement a holistic vision of the environment, including managing, monitoring, assessing environmental plans, programmes and initiatives, by involving responsible authorities, also through institutional collaboration at different territorial level and/or where appropriate in partnership with private entities, with a view to develop synergies, to reduce administrative burden and/or to optimise environmental outcomes. These activities will contribute, where applicable, to the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development Goals.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE ASSURANCE AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE:
Supporting environmental compliance. Environmental compliance assurance practitioners can include those working for authorities and bodies with compliance assurance responsibilities such as local, regional, police and customs authorities, environment agencies and inspectorates, supreme public audit bodies and the judiciary.
Promoting effective public participation and access to justice in environmental matters amongst the public, NGOs, lawyers, the judiciary, public administrations or other stakeholders with a view to improving knowledge, understanding and application of effective means of public participation62 and/or access to justice, with a particular focus on protecting people’s health and well-being and protecting the quality of the environment via the requirements of EU air, water and waste and environmental liability instruments.
BEHAVIORAL CHANGE AND AWARENESS-RAISING INITIATIVES:
The geographical scope of behavioral change and awareness-raising initiatives will be taken into account in the assessment of the European added value of proposed projects.
Raising awareness on environmental problems, EU environmental policies, tools and/or legislation among the relevant target audiences, aiming to change their perceptions and fostering the adoption of environmentally friendly behaviors and practices and/or direct citizen’s engagement.
60%
Indicative range of project budgets: €0.7 – €2 million
Financial support to third parties is allowed for grants or similar forms of support and prizes under the following conditions: the calls must be open, published widely and conform to EU standards concerning transparency, equal treatment, conflict of interest and confidentiality.
Financial support to third parties will be accepted in projects which aim to assist entities outside the project partnership (e.g. non-profit organisations, local authorities or citizens groups) in the implementation or development of local initiatives that will contribute to the project’s objectives.
Your project application must clearly specify why financial support to third parties is needed, how it will be managed and provide a list of the different types of activities for which a third party may receive financial support.
In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:
Proposals must relate to activities taking place in the eligible countries (see above).
Activities outside the eligible countries must be necessary to achieve the EU environmental and climate objectives and ensure the effectiveness of interventions carried within the eligible countries (e.g. actions aimed at the conservation of migratory birds in wintering areas, actions implemented on a trans boundary river, or projects aimed to address environmental problems that cannot be solved successfully or efficiently unless actions are carried out also in non eligible countries).
Department of Environment
Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
www.lifecyclamen.com.cy
Persons to Contact
Marilena Papastavrou
Environment Officer, National Contact Point for Environment
Telephone: +357 22 408 926
Email: mpapastavrou@environment.moa.gov.cy
Chrystalla Papastavrou
Environment Officer, National Contact Point for Climate
Telephone: +357 22 408 962
Email: cpapastavrou@environment.moa.gov.cy