The European Commission has officially published the 2025 LIFE calls for proposals, the European funding instrument for the environment and climate, which has a total budget of €5.4 billion for the 2021-2027 period.

Managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), for the 2025 year, the LIFE programme will fund projects for environmental protection, climate action, and the energy transition with a total budget of €600 million.

The LIFE Programme is divided into two main sectors:

1) Environment:

Nature and biodiversity
Supports the development, demonstration, and dissemination of innovative techniques and solutions—including nature-based solutions—to achieve the objectives of EU policies on nature and biodiversity protection. It also funds initiatives supporting the Natura 2000 network and projects that promote best practices and strengthen knowledge in this field.

Circular economy and quality of life
Promotes the transition towards a sustainable, circular, energy-efficient, climate-resilient, and toxic-free economy. Priority areas include:
- circular economy and waste management;
- zero pollution and sustainable use of natural resources (air, water, soil, noise, chemicals, industrial emissions);
- environmental governance.

2) Climate action:

Climate change mitigation and adaptation
Supports the implementation of the European Green Deal and the European Climate Law objectives. It funds projects that contribute to climate neutrality by 2050, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, and strengthen the adaptive capacity and resilience of ecosystems and communities to climate impacts.

Clean energy transition
Facilitates the shift to an energy system based on renewable sources and energy efficiency. It supports coordination and support actions (CSA) to strengthen skills, disseminate knowledge, raise awareness, and remove market barriers, involving local and regional authorities, SMEs, consumer associations, financial institutions, and other stakeholders in the energy sector.

Particular attention will be given to projects that are able to:

• Protect, conserve, and restore European biodiversity and natural ecosystems;
• Promote waste reduction, material reuse, and recycling;
• Support a more sustainable, competitive, and high-quality economic model;
• Reduce polluting emissions and improve the capacity to adapt to climate change;
• Foster the transition towards clean, renewable, and efficient energy sources.

All legal entities established in the European Union or in countries associated with the LIFE Programme are eligible to participate. Projects may be submitted by individual entities or partnerships. Natural persons are not eligible.

All information regarding the call for proposals, including details on sub-programmes and indicative budgets, is available on the official page.

From 13 to 15 May 2025, virtual Info Days (#EULife25) will be held to provide further insight into the application process and offer operational guidance from Programme experts.
Registration for the info days is free of charge via the dedicated page.

For further information, please contact us at een1@confindustria.lombardia.it.

Source: official CINEA website.