The 2021-2027 programme for Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) will become the EU’s most ambitious climate and environmental programme.

On 29 April the European Parliament approved the deal with Member States on LIFE, the only EU-level programme solely dedicated to the environment and climate. It will enter into force retroactively from 1 January 2021.

This EU programme will contribute to the necessary shift towards a clean, circular, energy-efficient, low-carbon and climate-resilient economy, with a view to protecting and improving the quality of the environment, and halting and reversing biodiversity loss.

The total budget allocated for LIFE in the compromise on the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework is EUR 5.4 billion (current prices). EUR 3.5 billion is earmarked for environmental activities and EUR 1.9 billion for climate action.

Boosting climate and biodiversity action

The programme will mainstream climate action in all EU policies and contribute towards the overarching target of spending at least 30% of the EU’s budget on climate objectives. LIFE will also support many biodiversity projects; 7.5% of the annual EU budget will go to biodiversity objectives from 2024 and 10% in 2026 and 2027.