Brussels, 19 October 2026
The European Commission has today announced to grant more than €390 million to 135 new projects across Europe under the LIFE programme for environment and climate action. The allocated amount represents more than half of the €579 million total investment needs for these projects. The remaining funding comes from national, regional and local governments, public-private partnerships, businesses, project partners, and civil society organisations.
LIFE projects play a significant role in the EU’s transition to a clean, circular and resilient economy. They contribute to better preparedness and resilience for extreme weather events and to the EU’s goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2050.
This investment will have a lasting impact on our environment, economy, industry and the well-being of all Europeans.
The projects will cover all areas of the LIFE programme, mobilising:
- Over €223 million (of which the EU will provide over €151 million) for 29 nature and biodiversity projects to restore and protect natural habitats and conserve the species that live there.
- Nearly €163 million (of which the EU will provide nearly €91 million) for 36 projects which contribute to a clean, circular, energy-efficient and climate-resilient economy while improving quality of life.
- Over €102 million (of which the EU will provide over €61 million) for 26 projects to strengthen climate resilience through adaptation and mitigation.
- Over €91 million (of which the EU will provide nearly €87 million) for 44 projects aimed at accelerating the clean energy transition.
Examples of projects
29 projects from 16 Member States have been selected to support nature and biodiversity. They range from the €9.2 million LIFE COCON project to restore coastal sand dunes in Belgium, to Bulgaria’s Diving Ducks LIFE – a €12.6 million project to conserve globally threatened diving ducks along the Black Sea-Mediterranean flyway. Other projects will also rescue and protect rare species, such as the sand jurinea (LIFE for Jurinea, Czechia, €10.7 million); the Saimaa ringed seal (LIFE SOS, Finland, €11.3 million); the Pyrenean desman, also called Iberian trumpet rat (LIFE SAVE Desman, Spain, €17.6 million); and several species of vultures (LIFE for VULTURES, Romania, €7.6 million, Bulgaria, €5.2 million).
36 projects from 13 Member States have been selected to promote a more circular economy and quality of life. The LIFE RESHAPE-D project, with a budget of €25.8 million, will reduce flood risk in Belgium’s Dender Valley by restoring natural-water management processes. In Slovakia, the €4.4 million LIFE ECOPRESSURE project aims to improve air quality and reduces microplastics release using advanced real-time tire inflation technology. In the Netherlands, the LIFE Waterhub, with a budget of €11.1 million, will demonstrate an innovative, flexible wastewater treatment system. With a budget of €2 million, the LIFE MUMs project aims to reduce women’s exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals.
Among the 26 projects on climate resilience and mitigation, the €10 million CARENA LIFE project in Germany will advance nature-based carbon removal techniques. In Ireland, the €4.4 million LIFE FLOW project will integrate nature-based solutions to protect against intense rainfall and storms. With €5.9 million, the LIFE POSTFIRE project will support the Mediterranean region with post-wildfires restoration. In Austria, FGasFree LIFE €1.9 million project will develop refrigerated transport free from fluorinated gases and with €3.4 million, the LIFE CCC BUILD project in Finland will turn forestry and agricultural residues into carbon-storing building materials. With a combined budget of €7.8 million, three other projects aim to advance climate policy implementation, awareness and support EU climate law compliance.
44 new multi-country projects have been selected for funding to support the clean energy transition. These cover the EU and as well as LIFE-associated countries. For example, the €15.8 million LIFE EUCF City Facility 3.0 will cover all EU countries plus Iceland, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Ukraine, providing financial and technical assistance to local authorities to invest in sustainable energy. In Portugal, the €733,218 LIFE SET-M project will support the energy renovation of buildings owned by social solidarity institutions. Both LIFE RISE DHC in Croatia and LIFE GREETIN in Denmark, each with a budget of €2.1 million, will support investment in efficient new district heating and cooling systems in several EU countries.
Background
For more than 34 years, the LIFE programme has co-financed more than 6,700 environmental and climate action projects across the European Union and associated countries. The 135 projects announced today were selected from a record 1,095 applications submitted under the LIFE Calls for proposals 2025, ranging from less than €650 000 to more than €15 million. Compared to last year, the funding allocated by the LIFE programme has increased by 9%.
The current LIFE programme started in 2021 and runs until 2027, with a budget of €5.43 billion. Grants financed under the LIFE Programme are managed by CINEA, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency.
For more information
Quote(s)
From nature-based carbon removal and flood protection to post-wildfire restoration and innovative carbon-storing building materials, these projects turn climate goals into practical solutions. They help make Europe more resilient to climate impacts, strengthen its competitiveness and reduce its dependence on external resources, while supporting the implementation of EU climate policy.
Wopke Hoekstra, Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth
The impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and unsustainable use of resources are increasingly challenging the prosperity and wellbeing of European citizens. Today’s announcement confirms the Commission’s ongoing commitment to a sustainable future. The quality of the selected projects illustrates the level of determination and professionalism of our partners across the EU. I look forward to seeing how these projects build on them to create a resilient society.
Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy
Source – EU Commission
Overview of new LIFE Project Summaries
Belgium
Reconnecting coastal dune ecosystems (LIFE COCON)
Dunes provide vital protection against sea level rise, flooding and coastal erosion, yet many dune ecosystems are fragmented and disconnected due to urban development and invasive trees and shrubs. A partnership of local authorities, private landowners, volunteers, schools and citizens will establish new dunes, reconnect existing ones, create ponds and restore habitats to boost biodiversity and improve coastal resilience along the entire 67 km Belgian coastline.
Training for eco-friendly forest management (LifeForSkills)
Biodiversity-friendly forest management (BFFM) is an efficient, economically viable and sustainable way to strengthen the climate resilience of forests. The project brings together 25 partners from 20 countries to demonstrate the benefits of BFFM by establishing an EU-wide community of practice, developing training manuals and courses, organising field visits and sharing best practices from 120 BFFM sites.
Restoring the spongey landscape and water system in the Dender Valley (LIFE RESHAPE-D)
Urbanisation, channel building and fragmented governance have increased the risks of soil degradation, flooding and drought in Belgium’s low-lying Dender Valley. Coordinated by the Flemish Environment Agency, RESHAPE-D’s 11 project partners from Belgium and the Netherlands will use nature-based solutions to restore the soil sponginess of 800 ha of wetland and floodplain in two pilot areas in Zandbergen-Ninove and Liedekerke, Affligem. This will increase the landscape’s ability to store water during heavy rain, recharge groundwater levels and improve degraded soils.
Demonstration innovative PFAS remediation strategy (LIFE DESTINY)
‘Forever chemicals’ (PFAS) are a persistent and challenging form of pollution. DESTINY’s eight project partners will combine a variety of technologies and expertise to demonstrate a scalable and cost-effective solution for tackling this contamination. This includes using advanced electron beams to destroy PFAS, thermal remediation and biologically-derived cleaning chemicals. The project partners will treat 300m³ of PFAS-contaminated waste and prepare a full-scale hub for treating 300 000 m³ of waste annually.
Reducing nutrient losses from agriculture (LIFE RENU-AGRI)
RENU-AGRI’s 10 project partners will combine innovative measures to reduce nitrate and phosphate pollution from agriculture using targeted interventions in the Yser, Scheldt and Meuse river basins. The project team will directly engage farmers to gain their trust and participation, with the aims of reducing soil nitrate levels by 25 545 kg by 2031 and reducing nitrate in surface water by 58 282 kg by 2036.
Sustainable products for LIFE (LIFE SP4L)
Building on two earlier LIFE projects, Ecodesigned4LIFE and reaLIFEstandards, the SP4L consortium of four project partners will coordinate consumer and civil society input on ecodesign and energy labelling of products under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and raise awareness on such topics.
Helping cities build neighbourhoods fit for a changing climate (LIFE CO-ACT)
Cities are facing a growing range of climate-related challenges, from flooding, droughts and heatwaves to declining biodiversity and poor air quality. The LIFE CO-ACT project team will help local authorities make neighbourhoods more resilient through blue-green infrastructure, integrating green spaces, trees and vegetation with water management features such as ponds, wetlands and rain gardens. The project will develop a practical roadmap to help municipalities plan, implement and monitor nature-based solutions. The approach will be tested in Belgium and the Netherlands before being shared with cities across Europe.
Stronger national support for citizen energy (LIFE CONNECT)
National federations and one-stop shops can help energy communities grow, but many lack stable support and finance. LIFE CONNECT will strengthen support structures in Czechia, Greece, France, the Netherlands, Romania and Slovenia. The project will professionalise advice, test new business models and prepare six financing schemes. Targeted training will bring municipalities, farmers, small businesses, young people and trade unions into community energy, with experts from Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova following the project to enhance its reach.
Powering Flanders through citizen clean energy investment (LIFE ECOmmunity)
Led by the Belgian energy cooperative Ecopower, LIFE ECOmmunity will help tens of thousands of citizens invest in renewable energy across Flanders. In particular, it will enable more than 73 000 citizens to co-invest in wind, solar and renewable heating. Inclusive finance, long-term energy contracts and smart energy management will widen participation. The results are expected to unlock € 46 million for seven wind turbines, 10 large solar projects, 1 250 small solar installations and 30 renewable heating plants or networks, adding 39 MW of renewable capacity.
Regional factories for faster home renovation (LIFE FACTORENO)
Fragmented services and expertise often make private home renovation slow, complex and expensive, hampering EU decarbonisation efforts. LIFE FACTORENO’s partners in Belgium, Croatia, France, Austria and Portugal will bring public authorities, construction firms and financiers into regional coordination units. These ‘renovation factory enablers’ will group demand, standardise solutions and connect households with tried-and-tested renovation methods, based on five units and seven aggregated renovation projects. The team expects the approach to increase local renovation rates by up to 30% and provide a blueprint for other regions to follow.
More purchasing power for clean public transport (LIFE LIFT)
Public transport operators often face long procurement cycles and limited budgets when introducing zero-emission automated services, which is slowing the sector’s clean energy transition. In Belgium, the LIFE LIFT project will prepare a €43.9 million investment programme for 80 electric automated buses and shuttles, charging systems and control infrastructure in the cities of Leuven and Antwerp. A central purchasing body will allow operators elsewhere to buy through a common framework, reducing duplication and delays. Dedicated staff training, safety guidance and shared contract templates will also be developed to make the approach easier to repeat across Europe.
Faster, better permits for renewable energy (LIFE RAA-PERMIT-BOOST)
EU countries are designating renewable acceleration areas (RAAs) to shorten project development times, but authorities still need practical ways to plan them effectively and build public support. LIFE RAA-PERMIT-BOOST will track implementation of RAAs across all 27 Member States, develop detailed case studies and run two communities that will implement best practices. The project will develop a manual, helpdesk, self-assessment tool and tailored technical assistance that will enable national and regional authorities to improve permitting and turn legal requirements into workable local procedures.
High-temperature heat pumps for Europe’s chemical industry (LIFE THERMELECT)
Chemical production plants require large amounts of heat, which is still often powered by fossil fuels. LIFE THERMELECT partners in Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Spain, France, Italy and Austria will bring together chemical companies, heat-pump makers, grid operators, researchers and service providers to accelerate the adoption of high-temperature electric heat pumps. The work will focus on industrial processes that require heat of 100°C to 200°C, identifying suitable applications and tackling technical, grid and business barriers. Shared guidance and project preparation will also help companies turn electrification opportunities into investable projects.
Bulgaria
Conserving globally-threatened diving ducks (Diving Ducks LIFE)
Diving Ducks LIFE is the first comprehensive attempt to reverse the decline of three endangered migratory species – the White-headed Duck, Ferruginous Duck and Common Pochard – which are threatened by loss of habitat, poaching, fishing and lead poisoning. The project team will work across 237 600 ha in 11 countries along the Black Sea-Mediterranean flyway, aiming to cut duck fatalities by half while enhancing ecosystem services and boosting nature-based tourism.
Helping the Egyptian Vulture to thrive (LIFE EV Safe Return)
With fewer than 50 pairs remaining, Egyptian Vultures are one of Europe’s most endangered raptors. The multi-national LIFE Safe Return consortium will boost recovery across the Africa-Europe flyway through rapid response teams, field patrols and law enforcement, while reducing threats from high voltage cables. Captive-bred birds will be released to strengthen populations, and local farmers, hunters, wardens, veterinarians, teachers, authorities and citizens will be trained as ‘vulture custodians’.
A stronger clean-energy construction workforce in south-east Europe (LIFE SKILLSBOOST SEE)
Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Greece have 2030 roadmaps for clean-energy construction skills, but implementation and funding remain uneven. LIFE SKILLSBOOST SEE will help national qualification platforms move from planning to delivery, implementing 16 priority measures and testing new training and certification schemes. The partnership will train 4 000 professionals and strengthen permanent cooperation among governments, educators and industry, helping the Member States sustain and grow a skilled renovation workforce.
Czechia
Rescuing the rare sand jurinea (LIFE for Jurinea)
A team covering Czechia, Germany and Ukraine aims to rescue the rare sand jurinea, now nearly extinct in parts of Central Europe. More than 100 ha will be restored, invasive species removed and plant populations boosted using specimens from healthy sites in Ukraine. Local people will be encouraged to participate in citizen science by growing new specimens in private and public gardens, ensuring community ownership and after-LIFE care.
Eliminating pollution from livestock farming with nature-based solutions (LIFE4FARMS)
Veterinary pharmaceuticals and nutrients in waste from livestock farming are a major source of water pollution. LIFE4FARMS’ eight project partners from Czechia, Portugal, Denmark and Italy will demonstrate Wet4Agro, a nature-based solution that filters livestock wastewater through pumice, ceramic shards and wetland habitats, monitored by smart sensors and artificial intelligence that supports processing decisions. The method promises to reduce water pollution, with nitrogen levels reduced by 70% and pharmaceuticals reduced by 80%.
Cyprus
Protecting iconic birds of prey (Raptors for LIFE)
Cyprus’s iconic raptors – the Griffon Vulture, Bonelli’s Eagle and Long-legged Buzzard – will benefit from a combination of conservation, governance and capacity-building activities. The project team will work with local partners to tackle illegal poisoning, retrofit high-risk power lines, secure reservoirs against accidental drowning, provide training and resources, and boost raptor populations through a captive breeding and release scheme. Alongside these activities, the team will run awareness campaigns aimed at engaging rural communities.
Engaging citizens and businesses in biodiversity-conscious economies to create nature-smart communities (LIFE BioCommunities)
LIFE BioCommunities’ six project partners from Cyprus and Greece will empower communities and businesses in Cyprus to actively support biodiversity conservation in Natura 2000 sites. The project team will combine bottom-up citizen engagement with targeted support for biodiversity-friendly entrepreneurship. They will also create a national biodiversity-friendly branding initiative linked to a digital marketplace to incentivise businesses and products that respect biodiversity.
Denmark
Driving circularity in forest-based fibre products (LIFE FIBRA)
Products made from recycled wood-fibres currently have limited uses, often ending up as packaging. LIFE FIBRA’s 14 project partners from 9 countries and the international non-profit the Forest Stewardship Council will coordinate and pilot a set of solutions to widen the use of recycled and recovered wood-based products, including increased secondary wood-fibre use in furniture and construction. The project team will also combine recycled wood fibres with non-forest-based fibres such as agricultural by-products and residues to produce new, long-lasting products. They will use certification standards and digital traceability systems to ensure the recycled status of products can be verified.
Investment plans for cleaner district energy (LIFE FIT-EX-DHC)
Cities and heat-network operators need robust plans to modernise existing district heating and cooling. The LIFE FIT-EX-DHC project will support 12 cases in Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France and Ukraine. Five will receive detailed technical and financial design, while seven apply a streamlined version of the method. By covering different network types, technologies and market conditions, the project will produce practical templates that other municipalities and operators can use to decarbonise and expand local energy systems.
Plug-and-play plans for green district heating (LIFE GREETIN)
District-heating operators lack the technical, commercial and financing models needed to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy and recovered heat. LIFE GREETIN will group 10 pilot networks across Czechia, Denmark, Austria, Poland, Finland and Sweden by shared characteristics, enabling operators and experts to develop tailored transition pathways and investment proposals. The project aims to mobilise €150 million in sustainable energy investment and generate 401.5 GWh of renewable or recovered heat each year. Peer learning will also help follower companies and public authorities adapt the tested approaches to their own networks.
Germany
Minimising unseen molecules to protect pregnant and reproductive-aged women from endocrine-disrupting chemicals (LIFE MUMs)
Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals poses a lifelong risk to children’s health, particularly when women are trying to conceive, and through pregnancy and early childhood. MUMs’ nine project partners will implement real-life household interventions in eight countries with the aim of reducing household exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals. The project will introduce an app with personalised guidance and conduct a biomonitoring study of 40 pregnant women in Poland while training 1 000 midwives, obstetricians and gynaecologists to integrate exposure prevention into routine care.
Climate-proof pollution warnings for the Rhine (LIFE C-SWIM Rhine)
While contamination of most pollutants in the Rhine has been reduced, potentially harmful chemicals from pharmaceutical, industrial and agricultural sources remain a challenge, especially during climate-driven heavy rainfall and flash floods. C-SWIM Rhine’s five project partners from Germany, France and the Netherlands will develop a new pollution spread model to predict and manage the spread of transboundary pollution as climate change alters conditions in the Rhine river basin.
Strengthening water resilience in rural landscapes through innovative retention measures (LIFE KeepWater4Later)
Some rural regions are increasingly facing both floods and droughts while climate change places growing pressure on water resources. In Bavaria’s Altmühlfranken region, a consortium led by the district of Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen and comprising municipalities, research institutions and agricultural organisations is implementing innovative water retention measures, including the restoration and reuse of ponds, basins and ditches. The beneficiaries aim to create a transferable model for sustainable water management that can be replicated across rural areas in northern Europe.
Turning German nature parks into carbon allies (LIFE CARENA)
Germany’s nature parks can help mitigate climate change by storing more carbon in soils and landscapes. Led by Trier University of Applied Sciences’ (IfaS) with German nature parks and monitoring experts, the LIFE CARENA team will train carbon removal managers and test smarter land management in four nature parks. Satellite images, drones and soil checks will show what works and help other protected areas replicate the approach.
Expanding Europe’s network of one-stop home-renovation services (LIFE EU Peers II)
One-stop-shop operators can help homeowners overcome the financial, technical and organisational barriers to renovation, but it requires stronger collaboration and supportive policies to scale their services. LIFE EU Peers II will expand its European community of practice from 6 to 12 national platforms, add a transnational platform and reach five more Central and Eastern European countries. Peer exchange, toolkits, working groups and training will also support over 950 members, while policy monitoring and engagement will help align renovation services with national policies and financing strategies.
Ireland
Results-based payments for nature-friendly farming (LIFE RBPS_NETforNature)
Results-based payment schemes (RBPS) incentivise farmers to enhance biodiversity, improve water quality and capture carbon in soil. The team behind LIFE RBPS_NETforNature will establish a capacity-building support network for EU Member States to incorporate RBPS in public and private support schemes. A peer-to-peer network will connect public authorities with experts and practitioners with various technical expertise who will aid them in piloting, monitoring and evaluating their RBPS.
Working with nature to tackle flooding and protect water quality (LIFE FLOW)
Heavy rainfall and storms are causing increasing flooding and water pollution in Galway and many other coastal cities. Galway City Council and the University of Galway will develop a nature-based model to water management across the city and its coastline. It will demonstrate how measures such as wetlands, green spaces and other natural water retention solutions will help slow and absorb excess rainfall, reducing pressure on drainage systems, improving water quality and making the city more resilient to climate change.
Financing deep renovation for Ireland’s public buildings (LIFE RenoPub Ireland)
Ireland’s public bodies need practical support to turn energy targets into renovation contracts. A dedicated assistance facility will bundle projects into large portfolios, streamline performance-based procurement, secure blended long-term finance and train public sector teams. The partnership aims to deliver €25 million in energy-saving performance contracts within three years and prepare a further €588 million in contracts over the following five years, supporting Ireland’s public sector in achieving a 51% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.
Greece
Safeguarding plane tree ecosystems in western Greece against canker stain disease (LIFE PLATANOS)
Plane trees are an iconic feature of Greece’s natural and cultural heritage on riverbanks, squares and rural landscapes while supporting biodiversity and community wellbeing. These trees are threatened by a fungal pathogen, Ceratocystis platani, which causes canker stain disease. PLATANOS’ 11 project partners will deliver a coordinated response to counter the pathogen across the regions of Epirus, Western Macedonia, the Ionian Islands and Western Greece, including developing risk maps and a mobile app for real time reporting by citizens.
Systematic assessment for financial and environmental risks for Environmental Liability Directive implementation (LIFE SAFER ELD)
Scaling up the SAFER IT platform produced in the LIFE PROFILE project to assess environmental and economic risks, SAFER ELD’s six project partners from Greece, Cyprus, Portugal and Italy will increase the tool’s scope to fully support implementation of the Environmental Liability Directive. The project team will automate much of the user effort required to input information and remove technical barriers that will enhance its potential for replication. The platform will be translated into three additional EU languages (six total) and expand its functionality to marine water damage.
Creating community climate shelters for more resilient and inclusive cities (LIFE NURTURE)
Extreme heat is becoming an increasing concern for cities across Europe, affecting public health, well-being and quality of life. Led by the Greek development organisation Anatoliki, the LIFE NURTURE project brings together municipalities, universities and sustainability experts from Greece, Italy and Spain to create a network of community-based climate shelters in urban areas. Combining green infrastructure, shaded public spaces and social initiatives, the beneficiaries aim to enhance climate resilience and social inclusion while developing a model that can be replicated in cities across Europe.
Rebuilding better after disasters (LIFE-RENEW)
After floods, fires and other disasters, reconstruction poses a threat of recreating the same or a similarly vulnerable environment unless possible climate impacts are factored in the reconstruction work. Two research organisations in Athens, Greece and Laxenburg, Austria from the LIFE-RENEW team will write a practical handbook to help authorities rebuild greener and stronger, then test it with communities in Thessaly, Greece; Valencia, Spain; Kurzeme, Latvia; Florence, Italy; Bucharest, Romania; Hasselt, Belgium and Odessa, Ukraine. A new European network will connect disaster-hit regions to share which solutions work beyond the project duration
Helping European cities plan sustainable heating and cooling (LIFE CHIP-EU)
Most European cities lack the governance, tools and capacity needed to develop integrated heating and cooling plans. LIFE CHIP-EU will provide a support framework that combines collaborative governance, a planning method integrating technical, spatial and social considerations, and a practical toolkit. Energy transition living labs will test the approach in five municipalities in six locations: Kalamata (Greece), Valladolid (Spain), Athienou (Cyprus), Groningen (the Netherlands), Slovenia’s Pomurje region and Ternopil (Ukraine). Validation by follower municipalities, including 27 in Italy, will help produce adaptable solutions that link clean energy with urban regeneration, poverty reduction and climate resilience.
One-stop renovation services in three Greek cities (LIFE HERMES)
Greek homeowners face fragmented information, complex permitting processes, limited financing and difficulty coordinating contractors, contributing to annual renovation rates of around 1%. LIFE HERMES will create three one-stop-shop hubs in Athens, Trikala and Kalamata, supported by a digital ecosystem that integrates technical assistance, finance, administration, contractor coordination and energy and non-energy upgrades. Municipalities, property-owner networks, certified professionals and a strategic partnership with Piraeus Bank will guide households from first contact to investment, prioritising vulnerable residents and heatwave resilience while developing a model for southern European cities.
Clearer, portable certification for renewable installers (LIFE RENReady)
Renewable energy deployment depends on qualified installers, but certification systems remain fragmented across Europe. LIFE RENReady will map schemes and skill gaps in Member States, covering solar energy, heat pumps, storage and electric-vehicle charging. New digital tools will give authorities national workforce oversight, enable installers to store and share verified credentials and identify compliance risks. A mutual recognition framework and policy toolkit will also help countries strengthen training, make qualifications portable and build the skilled workforce needed for the clean-energy transition.
Spain
Conserving the rare Montseny brook newt (LIFE Aqua Trito)
The critically-endangered Montseny brook newt is one of the most threatened amphibians in Western Europe, with fewer than 3 500 individuals living in mountain streams of Catalonia (Spain). Building on a previous successful LIFE project, the team will protect and conserve the Montseny brook newt and expand its distribution by restoring riparian habitats, improving stream connectivity, and acting against invasive species across Natura 2000 sites; engagement of locals and active participation of landowners will be essential to support conservation efforts.
Recreating ancient oak woodlands (LIFE BASOZAR)
Regional authorities and provincial councils are central to the success of LIFE BASOZAR. Aiming to demonstrate that science-based forest restoration in ancient oak woodlands can boost nature conservation and climate resilience and offer a replicable model for restoring high-value forest habitats. The project team will pilot silviculture, artificial ageing, enriched deadwood and ecological connectivity and monitor the results for impacts on biodiversity, climate resilience and human health.
Restoring habitat for rare larks (LIFE Iber-RICOTI)
The LIFE Iber-RICOTÍ team aims to secure the long-term survival of the threatened Dupont’s lark in Spain with extensive grazing on 6 000 ha; removing 800 ha of shrubs and trees; improving habitat in 100 ha of cultivated areas and carrying out controlled burning of 100 ha across Natura 2000 sites. Lark populations will be boosted through translocations and captive breeding releases. Local communities will be actively involved, which will benefit rural economies and enhance ecosystem resilience.
Protecting island reptiles from invasive snakes (LIFE Reptiles)
Endemic reptiles are threatened by invasive snakes in both the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands. The project team will work with authorities, scientific institutions, local communities and NGOs to establish reptile sanctuaries and deploy biosecurity techniques such as drone imaging, and AI and environmental DNA (eDNA) technology to control snake invasions. There will be continuous knowledge, learning and experience sharing to help the two island groups manage their respective snake invasions.
Saving the trumpet rat from extinction (LIFE SAVE Desman)
The Iberian desman (nicknamed the trumpet rat due to its long, flexible snout) lives in cold mountain streams and is highly sensitive to water pollution. The project team aims to increase populations by 30% and reduce inbreeding by 10% in Andorra, Spain, France and Portugal by improving water flows, restoring riverbanks, removing barriers and connecting waterways. Institutional capacity will be reinforced, and a conservation manual will gather best practices for use across the countries; more than five million citizens will be engaged through education, training and communication.
AI-powered bins to improve recycling of packaging materials (LIFE CIVIC)
Lightweight packaging is a major challenge to the EU circular economy as it is typically not recovered or recycled effectively. CIVIC’s 5 project partners from Spain and Czechia will demonstrate a ‘Pay as you Throw’ system to encourage people in Cáceres (Spain) to recycle packaging such as plastic bottles, beverage cans and glass. The project will fit 982 public bins with RecySmart Devices that use AI-powered acoustic and radar recognition to identify items as they are deposited.
Innovative treatment for EU urban wastewater (LIFE 4EVER)
There is an urgent need to upgrade urban wastewater treatment plants to comply with the new Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive on quaternary treatments. LIFE 4EVER’s eight project partners will demonstrate a flexible, robust, and compact hybrid solution capable of removing Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) from wastewater, while simultaneously promoting the safe reuse of reclaimed water. The project will use a next-generation ozonation system, biological activated carbon filters and biodegradation to remove more than 92% of contaminants. The solution will be demonstrated at Murcia Este WWTP (Spain), producing high-quality reclaimed water for artificial aquifer recharge in the Segura basin, increasing water availability, safeguarding ecosystems and enhancing resilience against droughts.
A nature-based solution for water pollution from greenhouse agriculture (LIFE BIOWET)
The rapid expansion of intensive greenhouse farming in Spain, Italy and the Netherlands has led to increased nitrate and phosphorus run-off into water bodies, harming water quality and causing biodiversity loss. BIOWET’s 6 project partners will demonstrate a nature-based system combining woodchip bioreactors with wetlands, capable of removing more than 80% of nitrates and up to 70% of phosphates from greenhouse water runoff. The system will be piloted at twofarms in south-east Spain, with replication potential across 200 000 hectares of greenhouse agriculture
Digital Product Passport for textiles to drive circularity and traceability (LIFE DPP-TEX)
DDP-TEX will demonstrate how Digital Product Passports (digital records linked to physical products) can reduce waste in the textile sector by improving circularity and traceability. The digital passports will be used in industrial pilots in Spain and Bulgaria to process 27 tonnes of textile waste and produce 60 000 circular products. In Bulgaria, two companies will implement closed loop recycling of home textiles while in Barcelona, Spain, 2 companies will reuse, upcycle and recycle discarded municipal uniforms.
An environmentally friendly technology based on a natural polymer for industrial and urban wastewater treatment (LIFE GREENWAT)
GREENWAT’s five project partners from Spain and Poland will demonstrate an innovative, environmentally friendly technology for treating wastewater. The technology uses a naturally derived polymer that can remove suspended particles and hazardous chemicals from wastewater sludge allowing for increased production of biogas during treatment, leaving the sludge safe to spread on land. Pilots will be run at a ceramics company, a food and beverage company, a waste management company and an urban wastewater treatment plant.
Collaborating with children and families for sustainable water use (GOV LIFE KIDS+)
Water scarcity and climate vulnerability are among Europe’s most pressing challenges, especially in Mediterranean regions such as Catalonia. GOV LIFE KIDS+’ eight project partners from Spain and France will combine education, gamification and citizen science with behaviour monitoring to place children and families at the centre of water sustainability. The project will engage more than 11 500 children aged 10-14 through schools and community spaces.
Accelerating the green transition of small to medium enterprises in the Basque Country (LIFE-ESG EUSKADI)
The sustainability performance of small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Basque Country will be strengthened through a regional environmental, social and governance (ESG) roadmap. 11 Spanish project partners will provide a free digital platform for ESG self-assessment, alongside a verification protocol, practical tools and targeted capacity building to help SMEs improve their sustainability performance and align with evolving ESG requirements.
Empowering EU furniture and furnishings companies to adopt circular business models (CircularLIFE4Furn)
Predominantly composed of small to medium enterprises, the European furniture sector lacks the data, skills and readiness to meet future sustainability regulations. CircularLIFE4Furn’s international consortium of 20 project partners will address these gaps by empowering companies to adopt circular business models as a way of driving competitiveness, climate neutrality and biodiversity protection. They will provide practical guidance and toolkits alongside training programmes and national workshops.
Green public spaces for city residents (LIFE SuperGREENBlocks)
The superblock model for sustainable urban development combines several traditional city blocks into larger units where traffic is restricted and most street space is transformed into public recreation areas. LIFE SuperGREENBlocks plans to implement this model in Cartagena (Spain), Reggio Calabria (Italy) and Szombathely (Hungary), integrating urban nature, clean energy solutions and climate action into a model that promotes an appealing green transition solution for European cities.
Investing in more resilient Mediterranean forests (LIFE CLIMARK4SOCIETY)
Mediterranean forests are under growing pressure from climate change, biodiversity loss and increasingly frequent wildfires. Led by the Centre de la Propietat Forestal and involving public authorities and environmental organisations from Spain and France, the LIFE CLIMARK4SOCIETY project builds on the Catalan Climate Credit System (SCCFC), an innovative scheme that rewards forest owners and managers for practices that enhance carbon storage, biodiversity, water resources and social co-benefits.
Building resilience in landscapes on the frontline of wildfires (LIFE RESIFIRE)
The growing risk of wildfires in peri-urban and rural landscapes due to climate change is one of the most urgent challenges Europe is facing. Under LIFE RESIFIRE, public authorities, researchers and local organisations in Spain and Portugal will work together to strengthen the resilience of these areas, where urban, agricultural and natural landscapes meet. Their approach combines sustainable land management, grazing, digital monitoring tools and community engagement to reduce wildfire risk and help communities adapt to a changing climate.
Benefiting soils and farmers’ incomes through agrivoltaics (LIFE RuralPower)
Mediterranean drylands are increasingly affected by extreme heat, water scarcity and soil degradation, putting farming communities under growing pressure. Under LIFE RuralPower, researchers, farmers, renewable energy experts and community organisations from Spain and Italy will work together to test an innovative approach that combines almond production with solar energy generation. By integrating low-impact agrivoltaic systems with soil regeneration practices, the project aims to improve water retention, protect soil health, and diversify farmers’ income.
Giving olive tree branches a second life (LIFE Carbon-4-LIFE)
In Southern Spain, olive groves produce huge amounts of pruned wood that is often burned or left to rot. At BIOCAM’s Seville facility, the project team will turn 9 000 tonnes of woody waste and 15 000 tonnes of fermentable waste per year into clean gas, soil improvers and peat alternatives, and sequester 3 443 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year. The process locks away carbon instead of releasing it, while creating a practical circular solution for European regions with abundance of woody biomass.
Saving chestnut landscapes across Iberia (LIFE CHESTNUTRAP)
In Spain and Portugal, chestnut groves are losing productivity a the combined effects of climate change, pests and land abandonment weaken the resilience of rural landscapes. The LIFE CHESTNUTRAP project team brings together the Santiago de Compostela University, Vilnius University, a Spanish research centre and a small-medium enterprise (SME) who will test regenerative chestnut management on 104 ha by rebuilding soils, using residues and reducing wildfire risks. The project aims to achieve 2 250 tonnes of CO2 equivalent stored in five years through its carbon monitoring tool and to support over 800 verified carbon credits for smallholders in collective carbon farming schemes.
Cleaning the air around wastewater plants (LIFE ODYSSEY)
Wastewater treatment plants can release methane and nitrous oxide, climate-warming gases, and odours that affect nearby communities. In Catalonia, Spain, the Catalan Water Partnership (CWP) leads a consortium with a research centre and five small-medium enterprises (SMEs) who will test sensors, artificial intelligence and bio-based filters in two treatment plants. The tools will help operators spot emission peaks early and cut climate pollution and odours.
Unlocking private finance for community energy (LIFE ACCE Plus)
Citizen-led energy projects can struggle to secure finance because communities and lenders assess investment needs and risks differently. LIFE ACCE Plus will co-create and pilot three community energy financing schemes, providing guarantees for district heating in the Netherlands, supporting citizen-led renovation in Ireland and serving countries without national renovation schemes. Capacity building for communities and financial institutions will improve mutual understanding and generate investment-ready pipelines. Stronger governance and links to wider financing systems will also help mobilise private capital across Europe.
Trusted local support for urban energy communities (LIFE ECOss)
Urban energy communities in central and eastern Europe lack trusted local support, slowing progress and increasing the risk of corporate capture. LIFE ECOss will adapt Spain’s public-led community transition office model and open physical one-stop shops in Budapest, Lutsk and Sofia. A ‘train-the-facilitator’ programme will equip municipal staff and actors with legal, financial, engagement and mediation skills. The hubs aim to support more than 30 communities and trigger €13.5 million in investment, with Romanian and Croatian cities prepared to test through replication.
Connecting building data for more and smarter renovations (LIFE REAHUB)
Building renovation is harder to plan when energy certificates, renovation passports, smart-readiness assessments and city data remain disconnected. LIFE REAHUB will create an online framework linking building-level information with urban diagnostics, financing tools and local and national datasets. Pilots in Austria, Italy and Spain will test standard assessment protocols, integrated procedures and decision-support tools. The resulting renovation hub will help authorities, owners and financiers prioritise cost-effective measures, identify funding and verify results.
Bringing vacant homes back as affordable, energy-efficient rentals (LIFE REFOCUS)
Returning vacant homes to the rental market could ease housing pressure, but owners face financial, technical and administrative barriers to renovating and renting them out. LIFE REFOCUS will pilot a hybrid one-stop shop in Olot and Sant Joan de les Abadesses, Catalonia, to guide owners through energy renovation and the return of their properties to the rental market. The service aims to advise 640 owners and bring more than 378 homes into affordable rental use, avoiding 227 tonnes of CO2 annually by reducing primary energy consumption by 2.2 GWh/year. A replication toolkit will also support expansion across Europe.
Trusted data to accelerate apartment renovation in southern Europe (LIFE RENOBOOST)
Renovation of family homes in southern Europe is often slowed by high costs, low-trust building data and limited guidance on mitigating summer heat. LIFE RENOBOOST will connect energy certificates, renovation passports, smart-readiness assessments and digital building logbooks through a common, auditable data model. Pilots in Bilbao, Occitanie and Porto will produce at least 400 enriched certificates and 200 renovation passports. Resident engagement, one-stop shops and cooperation with financial institutions will turn diagnostics into practical renovation plans that can be replicated across Europe.
Shared clean-heat networks for industrial clusters (LIFE RIHNPact)
Neighbouring factories can cut costs and emissions by sharing renewable energy and surplus heat, but this requires companies to plan and coordinate investment. LIFE RIHNPact will bring businesses and partners together at industrial sites to design shared heat networks that use recovered heat, renewables, heat pumps and storage. Partners from Belgium, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Poland and Portugal will support 12 pilots, prepare feasibility studies, investment plans and a method for wider use. The project aims to mobilise €125 million for the pilots, save 670 GWh of primary energy, train 189 professionals and certify 30 energy managers in industrial energy cooperation.
Financing large energy-saving projects across Spain (LIFE SUPERES)
Many Spanish organisations lack finance and specialist expertise to deliver large energy-saving and decarbonisation projects. Based on Canadian and French models, LIFE SUPERES will establish a private Spanish ‘Super ESCO’, offering funding, design, standard contracts and project management as one service. It will support energy efficiency and on-site renewable energy, guarantee independently verified savings and repay project finance from those savings. By managing technical and financial risks, the energy service company will enable clients to launch projects without adding debt to their balance sheets.
France
Reintroducing the European mink (LIFE CARE)
A consortium of 19 partners across France and Romania aims to preserve, support and expand the last remaining populations of the critically-endangered European mink in France and enable their expansion. Coordinated by the French Office for Biodiversity, the LIFE CARE team will focus on restoring habitats, reducing road collisions and accidental fatalities and preventing the spread of the invasive American mink. Some animals will also be translocated to support other populations.
Preserving coastal marshes (LIFE Palustris)
The French-Bulgarian team behind LIFE Palustris aims to restore and manage coastal wetland habitats such as salt meadows, lagoons and marshes for the benefit of both nature and the people who live and work in them. Conservation must be balanced with sustainable agriculture and land use. The project will work with farmers and stakeholders to restore more than 7,000 ha of habitats of community interest.
Protecting rare reptiles in the Caribbean (LIFE Rept’island)
On the islands of Saint Martin, Saint Barthélemy and Guadeloupe in the French West Indies, rare indigenous snakes and lizards are under threat. Coordinated by the French Office for Biodiversity, the seven strong consortium will control invasive species including rats, cats and goats, and create new protected areas and restore degraded habitats. Education, consultation and awareness-raising are key, alongside hosting biosecurity conferences, coordinating and strengthening defenses against new invasive alien species.
Repair and reuse of solar panels to reduce waste from the photovoltaic industry (LIFE CIRCULAR PV)
Europe is expected to face six million tonnes of photovoltaic waste by 2040 as existing solar energy installations reach the end of their lifespan. CIRCULAR PV’s eight project partners from France, Spain and Portugal aim to reduce such waste through monitoring and repair innovations that extend their lifespan by up to 20 years.
Unlocking affordable, sustainable and inclusive housing (LIFE RE-HOME)
Millions of dwellings are empty or underused while local authorities need affordable housing and viable land to build on. The team at LIFE RE-HOME – drawn from Belgium, Greece, France and Slovenia – have solutions that unlock affordable, sustainable and inclusive housing while reducing land use and saving carbon emissions. Based on New European Bauhaus values, 80 housing units on four demonstration sites will be built in place of obsolete buildings and vacant municipal housing, and designed with home-sharing and co-living features and biodiversity-friendly gardens.
Protecting coastlines with reefs inspired by nature (SURFREEF LIFE)
Coastal erosion and rising sea levels are putting many European coastlines under increasing pressure, while marine ecosystems continue to decline. The University of Montpellier, ecological engineering company ‘LineUp Ocean’, environmental organisation ‘FMMB’ and coastal conservation association ‘Rivages’ will work together to develop innovative hybrid reefs that combine natural and engineered features to protect vulnerable coastlines and restore marine biodiversity.
De-sealing municipal soils for enhancing climate resilience (EARTH-LIFE)
Paved-over and degraded soils store less carbon and cope poorly with climate change. In the Île-de-France region, the EARTH-LIFE project team is training professionals, schools and around 100 municipalities to protect soil health, while de-sealing land equal to roughly 210 football pitches. The initiative aims to raise awareness of healthy soils by helping regional and municipal authorities better value their role in storing carbon, protecting biodiversity and adapting to climate change (locking away 28 500 extra tonnes of CO2 a year) and sharing lessons across at least five other European regions.
Scoring companies’ climate transition plans (LIFE Co-Pilot)
Comparing corporate climate transition plans is difficult without a common reference point. A Franco-Dutch project team is applying ACT Core, a science-based assessment framework, to analyse 500 European companies’ transition plans against their public disclosures, and publish the results in an open database. Financial institutions, public funders and policymakers will be able to use these assessments to support the investment decisions and track corporate climate performance.
National observatories to tackle energy poverty (LIFE BEACON)
More than 35 million Europeans face energy poverty as many countries still lack permanent structures to coordinate housing, health, social and energy policy. LIFE BEACON will establish or reinforce six national observatories in Austria, France, Ireland, Cyprus, Finland and North Macedonia. Each will prepare a national roadmap and improve data, governance and cooperation.
Unlocking finance for deep home renovation in France (LIFE FINARENO)
Unstable subsidies, fragmented services, complex procedures and limited confidence constrain France’s single-family home renovation market. LIFE FINARENO will establish a private financing scheme based on a single contract among the household, the bank and the one-stop-shop operator, supported by an energy performance guarantee and monitored savings. The scheme will be tested through 150 whole-house renovations of pre-1975 homes, each targeting primary energy savings of over 60% and an A or B energy label, while preparing the model for wider European replication.
185 sustainable-energy investment concepts for municipalities (LIFE EUCF 3.0)
Municipalities often have ambitious climate and energy plans but lack the resources to turn them into investable projects. LIFE EUCF 3.0 will provide financial assistance and enhanced technical support to municipalities and regions across 32 countries (EU Member States, Iceland, Montenegro, Moldova, North Macedonia and Ukraine), developing 185 investment concepts anchored in local energy, climate and heating and cooling plans. Training, peer collaboration, national roundtables and advisory support will strengthen municipal capacity, while connections to EU technical assistance instruments will help projects progress towards large-scale public and private investment.
Grouped procurement for French social-housing renovation (LIFE MAESTRO)
Social housing renovation projects are often conducted individually, making projects costly and difficult to scale. LIFE MAESTRO will combine landlords’ demand through a central purchasing body in Pays de la Loire, pooling expertise and testing contractual, financial and technical models in a flagship contract covering around 1 500 homes. Replication pathways in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Normandy will demonstrate how secure contracts, innovative financing and hybrid renovation methods can make high-performance upgrades more affordable and attractive for small businesses and industrial suppliers across Europe.
Unlocking private finance for French business energy upgrades (SCALEFIN LIFE)
Small energy-efficiency and renewable energy projects in France’s commercial and industrial sectors can struggle to attract private capital. SCALEFIN LIFE will create an interregional mechanism that combines public and private resources through flexible energy performance contracts and leasing and power purchase agreements. Pilots in Occitanie, Hauts-de-France and Centre-Val de Loire will test reusable contracts and risk-reduction measures across office, retail and healthcare sectors, lowering transaction costs and producing a scheme for wider adoption across France.
Croatia
Clean heating and cooling plans for five EU cities (LIFE TALA-IMPACT)
Heating and cooling account for more than half of Europe’s final energy consumption, but structured planning remains underdeveloped in central and south-east Europe. Local authorities and technical partners will prepare integrated plans for Zagreb, Budapest, Bucharest, Skopje and Podgorica, using detailed demand assessments, infrastructure mapping and resource analysis. Covering nearly five million residents, LIFE TALA-IMPACT plans will strengthen local capacity, identify investment priorities and provide scalable methods that other European cities can use to decarbonise their heating and cooling sectors.
Building Croatia’s clean-energy investment pipeline (LIFE ENFORCE-CRO)
Buildings, district heating and cooling and mobility account for around 75% of Croatia’s final energy consumption, which remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels while renewable energy potential is underused. LIFE ENFORCE-CRO will establish a support facility to provide technical, financial and legal assistance for investment-ready projects. The pipeline aims to mobilise €100 million across these three sectors, generate 28 GWh of renewable energy annually and save around 173 GWh of final energy each year.
New renewable district-energy networks ready to invest (LIFE RISE DHC)
Many cities without district heating or cooling need credible plans before they can invest in such networks. Eight cities from Germany, Ireland, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia and Sweden will receive technical, financial and governance support to prepare bankable plans that rely entirely on renewable energy and waste heat recovery. LIFE RISE DHC will take each municipality from initial ambition to an endorsed plan ready for procurement. Webinars and a replication kit will help follower cities use the same approach for their own clean district energy systems.
Italy
Advanced technology to reduce bycatch (LIFE BYCATCH)
Coordinating between Greece, Spain, Croatia, Italy and Portugal, the team will integrate sustainable fishing with nature conservation to protect marine life in 57 Atlantic and Mediterranean Natura 2000 sites. Fishers will be encouraged to use AI-based acoustic deterrents, excluder devices, biodegradable gear and line-fishing to reduce marine litter. Remote electronic monitoring, satellite tracking, eDNA, drones, passive acoustics and post-mortem exams will gather data to improve conservation while ensuring fisheries adopt more sustainable practices.
Restoring forests for a resilient future (LIFE FOREST4FUTURE)
More than 50 000 volunteers will help restore 485 ha of forest habitat across eight Natura 2000 sites in northern Italy, deploying nature-based solutions to control invasive alien species, restore native forests, enhance climate resilience and improve conditions for vulnerable species. Using climate vulnerability mapping, genetic selection and adaptive forestry, the team will develop a forest governance tool and certification scheme to ensure the project model is replicable beyond its lifetime.
Next-generation forest management (LIFE Next-GoProFor)
Operating out of four ‘living labs’ covering 4 700 ha of degraded land, the project uses closer-to-nature forestry to restore Natura 2000 forest habitat. Wildfire prevention plans will be put in place across 16 km2, while FSC certification and blockchain-based traceability will ensure transparent and market-sustainable products. The team will develop digital tools including an app to connect planning and fieldwork, along with manuals, toolkits and training programmes.
Restoring shallow waters in the Venice Lagoon (LIFE REGROWTH)
Once-abundant underwater flowers have virtually disappeared from the Venice Lagoon, destroyed by eutrophication and algal blooms. The team behind Life REGROWTH aims to restore these flowers, known as aquatic angiosperms, by recolonising the Lagoon with plants taken from other areas. Building on the success of previous LIFE projects, they will work with existing fishing networks to restore the most promising sites and over time, increase resilience to erosion and climate impacts.
Harmonising the approach used in the EU to perform chemical risk assessments (HURRA-LIFE)
Read-across is a method used to predict the toxicological properties of a substance using data from similar chemicals. Following amendments to the EU chemical regulations in 2025, HURRA’s 21 project partners will develop a next-generation platform that will streamline procedures for chemical risk assessment across Europe. The free, open-source platform will include industrial chemicals, cosmetics, pesticides, biocides, pharmaceuticals and environmental pollutants.
The industrial upcycling and re-utilisation of recycled carbon fibres in high-performance applications (LIFE ARIADNE)
Only small amounts of carbon fibre waste are currently recycled, typically into low-quality products. ARIADNE’s six project partners from Italy, Denmark, France and Germany will implement an innovative process to turn carbon fibre waste into new, high-quality carbon fibre yarn. They will use the recycled carbon fibre yarn to produce prototype components for race cars and bicycles. The process promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 83%, energy use by 77% and water use by 74% compared to using virgin carbon fibre.
Reusing biomass ash with plants to remove PFAS, biocides and other toxic chemicals from water (LIFE NEOPHYTA)
Current technologies struggle to remove emerging contaminants such as PFAS ‘forever chemicals’, pharmaceuticals, pesticides and emerging organic pollutants from wastewater. NEOPHYTA’s project partners from Italy will demonstrate an innovative, near energy-neutral purification system at industrial scale, which combines existing technology with plants that absorb toxins and novel hydroxyapatite absorbents made from waste plant ash. The system aims to treat 15 000 tonnes of wastewater per year.
Recycling graphite for high-value applications (LIFE REGRAPH)
There is rising demand for synthetic graphite in batteries, coatings and electronics, but the industry in Europe is highly reliant on imports from China. REGRAPH’s six project partners from Italy, Spain and Belgium will design and operate an industrial pilot facility in Palermo, Italy, to produce recycled graphite for batteries, coatings and electronics through an innovative process. The facility will process up to 2 000 tonnes of waste per year and generate 94% less CO2 than virgin synthetic graphite.
Innovative natural fertiliser made by nitrogen-enriched zeolite and struvite from slurries (LIFE STRUVITE)
STRUVITE’s six project partners from Italy, Croatia and the Netherlands will demonstrate the manufacture and effectiveness of an innovative alternative to chemical fertilisers. Obtained through the treatment of waste slurries, nitrogen-enriched zeolite and struvite-based fertiliser will reduce chemical fertiliser use by 48% and even replace chemical fertilisers in trial fields. The product promises to reduce the ammonia emissions from agricultural soil that cause pollution by up to 40%.
Autonomous electric tractors for orchards and vineyards (LIFE X-TRON)
There are 3.5 million tractors in Europe, mainly powered by polluting diesel engines. X-TRON’s consortium of three Italian companies will design and build three autonomous electric tractors for use in orchards and vineyards. Farmers will spend 18 months trialling the tractors for spraying, mowing, weed control and trimming. Each tractor will reduce emissions from diesel fuel by 0.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide, 12kg of carbon monoxide, 11kg of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons and 36g of particulate matter per hectare of treated field.
Restoring damaged forests with climate-adapted trees (ART for LIFE)
Across Europe, spruce forests are increasingly affected by climate change and outbreaks of bark beetles, small insects that tunnel beneath tree bark and can kill large numbers of weakened trees. Led by Italy’s National Research Council (CNR), project partners from Italy, Germany and Slovenia will test new approaches to restoring damaged forests in pilot sites in the Northern Apennines and the Dinaric Alps. By introducing climate-adapted populations of silver fir, spruce and beech into affected areas, they aim to create more diverse and resilient forests that are better able to cope with future environmental pressures.
Smarter tools for stronger flood protection (BEAVER4LIFE)
The devastating floods that struck Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region in 2023 highlighted the need for better ways to assess the condition of flood defences. Led by the Unione della Romagna Faentina, partners from Italy, Greece and Hungary will develop a digital decision-support tool that helps authorities identify vulnerable sections of embankments before failures occur. Tested along the Lamone River, the approach combines engineering and geomorphological data to guide reinforcement measures and improve flood preparedness in river basins across Europe.
Helping farmers cope with growing climate risks through smarter insurance (LIFE BeAdapt)
Droughts, floods and extreme weather are making farming increasingly unpredictable across Europe, yet many farms remain insufficiently protected against climate-related losses. Under the LIFE BeAdapt project, the University of Florence, together with researchers, technology providers, insurers, farmer organisations and agricultural businesses, will develop a new insurance model for agriculture. Using satellite data, field monitoring technologies and automated compensation systems, the project partners aim at making climate insurance more accessible and reliable while incentivising climate-proof agricultural practices.
Restoring forests after wildfires with nature-based solutions (LIFE POSTFIRE)
Wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe across southern Europe, leaving lasting impacts on forests, biodiversity, soils and water systems. Led by the Italian National Research Council (CNR), the LIFE POSTFIRE project will test innovative approaches to post-fire ecological restoration in pilot areas affected by wildfires. Combining traditional restoration practices with new technologies, including drone mapping, AI-supported decision-making tools and soil microbiota restoration, the project aims to accelerate ecosystem recovery and help forests become more resilient to future fires.
Turning factory emissions into useful materials (LIFE AGHETA)
Industrial sites release CO2 and air pollutants that warm the climate and harm health. In Brescia, Italy, the LIFE AGHETA team will test a technology that captures CO2 while removing pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides and fine particles. Instead of treating them as waste, the process turns captured emissions into useful by-products for the construction materials sector.
Insulating homes with rice straw and wool (LIFE ERICE)
Buildings lose energy through poor insulation that is often made from materials with a high carbon footprint. Milan-based company Ricehouse has developed a panel made of over 85% recycled rice straw and wool scraps, offering high breathability, natural fire resistance and insulation at a competitive cost. With partners in Torino, Italy and Valencia and Sagunt, Spain, the insulation panels will be tested in labs and buildings and prepared for market with EU conformity marking, building on Ricehouse’s track record selling rice-straw panels.
Swapping harmful F-gases for CO2 in ice cream machines (LIFE N’ICE CREAM)
Professional ice cream machines often run on F-gases, powerful climate-warming chemicals that release persistent PFAS pollutants. Italian manufacturer Carpigiani is developing two new machines cooled by CO2 that will cut emissions, water use and electricity by around a fifth, while eliminating PFAS-related pollution entirely. Real-world testing with users in Lodz, Poland and Straubing, Germany over two seasons will enable performance monitoring before the machines reach the wider European market.
Protecting vulnerable households from extreme heat (LIFE ASSUMMER)
Hotter summers and more frequent heatwaves increasingly threaten vulnerable households, while summer energy poverty remains largely overlooked. LIFE ASSUMMER will establish national coordination structures in Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus and Slovenia, linking social, health, housing, energy and technical services. Mentoring, practical tools and peer exchange will help local actors translate national policy into targeted measures.
Practical local plans for clean heating and cooling (BetterLIFE)
Heating and cooling account for around half of EU energy use, yet many local authorities lack practical plans for moving away from fossil fuels. BetterLIFE will support five pilots in Bulgaria, Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Slovenia to provide cities and regions with an open-source financial assessment tool and methods for co-designing local heating and cooling plans. Covering homes, public and commercial buildings, industry and the future of gas networks, the plans will create credible investment pathways that reflect local priorities and climates.
Better decarbonisation for metals and foundries (LIFE METALDECARB)
Europe’s metal and foundry sectors must cut energy use and emissions while remaining competitive, but many companies lack sector-specific plans and access to suitable technologies. LIFE METALDECARB brings together partners from Italy, Austria, Spain, Poland and Belgium to connect manufacturers with clean-energy technology providers through four pilots and an EU-wide network. Tailored training and coordinated planning will help businesses identify technically sound, financially viable measures and turn climate obligations into concrete investment decisions for cleaner, more efficient production.
Local support for inclusive energy communities (LIFE MOSAIC)
Renewable energy communities and supportive frameworks have developed unevenly across Europe, leaving large areas without clear guidance on how to scale their clean energy solutions. LIFE MOSAIC will establish local energy action points that offer practical, co-designed assistance and connect communities with public authorities, financiers and technical experts. Partners will also strengthen regional and national umbrella organisations, enabling local initiatives to share services, learn from one another and influence policy. Activities across EU countries, Ukraine and North Macedonia will promote inclusive participation and create lasting support structures.
Giving Parma homeowners the confidence to renovate (LIFE OSSential)
Confusing customer journeys and fragmented renovation services discourage homeowners from investing in energy upgrades. LIFE OSSential will test a next-generation one-stop shop in Parma, Italy, combining advice, finance, implementation and quality assurance through a single interface. A partnership between banks, facilitators and public authorities will streamline processes and build trust. The pilot will renovate three apartment blocks and two single-family houses while developing climate-responsive solutions and a ‘360° Guarantees’ model that can be replicated across the EU to accelerate renovation projects.
Local energy and climate plans backed by business investment (LIFE Secure Your SECAP)
Cities often struggle to secure funding to turn their sustainable energy and climate ambitions into action. LIFE Secure Your SECAP will facilitate structured dialogue among municipalities, businesses, industry, community groups and financiers, linking local priorities to investable projects. Partners from Czechia, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, the Netherlands and Ukraine will test the approach in 28 pilot and 24 replicator cities. Climate pacts will clarify commitments, while peer learning, an investment-ready project portfolio and a replication toolkit will help cities secure funding and deliver decarbonisation measures.
Scaling up one-stop support for Europe’s renewable energy communities (LIFE SOSS4EREC)
Renewable energy communities need specialist support to expand district heating and cooling, building renovation, shared solar power and energy storage projects. LIFE SOSS4EREC will strengthen coordinating structures in Podlipansko, Abruzzo, Catalonia and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes by co-designing and testing 34 new one-stop-shop services with local stakeholders. The project will benefit almost 160 renewable energy communities and expand support for more citizen-led energy projects in other Member States.
Latvia
Piloting the application of nature credit schemes to finance nature restoration in the Baltic (LIFE BIO-CRED Baltic)
With a team coordinating across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, LIFE BIO-CRED Baltic will pilot nature credit schemes across 2 214 ha of degraded habitat and prepare a pipeline of projects to finance the restoration of a further 12 000 ha across three Baltic countries after the end of the project. The team aims to cover public funding gaps for nature restoration using nature credits, similar to carbon credits but focused on nature, and leverage their impact in supporting the EU’s Roadmap towards Nature Credits.
Hungary
Nature-based solutions for urban climate resilience (LIFE INSSURE)
Nature-based solutions (NBS) are at the heart of LIFE INSSURE, which addresses three interconnected urban water pollution challenges: combined sewer overflows, urban heat islands and loss of biodiversity. A consortium of seven partners will establish pilots in Sofia (Bulgaria) and Budapest (Hungary) to test NBS around two wastewater treatment plants. Local action plans will be designed using hydrological modelling, geospatial analysis and innovative financing options to maximise the positive impacts on urban spaces and benefits for city residents.
Creating a trusted national renovation service in Hungary (LIFE NERO)
Hungarian homeowners face fragmented services, financing gaps and low trust in renovation providers. LIFE NERO will combine a national digital platform with trained local mentors, providing households with standard renovation packages, comparable offers from verified contractors, and financial and administrative support. Two regional pilots will test the state-coordinated one-stop-shop service and support more than 100 renovations, including a dedicated pathway for vulnerable households.
Netherlands
Pollinators for nature (LIFE PolliNatre)
A collaborative network of provinces, municipalities, water boards, farmers, NGOs, businesses and citizens will support LIFE PolliNature in reversing pollinator decline in six provinces across the Netherlands. In line with the National Pollinator Strategy, the project will create regional networks of flower-rich habitats and ecological corridors that provide food, shelter, nesting and safe passage for threatened bee species including 1 650 km of margins, dykes, watercourses and hedgerows, and 640 ha of new or improved habitats.
Flexible pre-treatment of port waste streams (LIFE Waterhub)
Using proven technologies, Waterhub’s three project partners from the Netherlands and Sweden will demonstrate how modular pre-treatment of industrial wastewater can help ports adhere to stricter regulations under the EU Water Framework Directive. The technology avoids the need to transport wastewater over long distances for incineration. The approach will be demonstrated at the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant in Rotterdam, with a capacity for 600 000 tonnes of wastewater treatment per year.
Rewetting peatlands to fight climate change (REWETPeat4LIFE)
In the Netherlands’ Weerribben wetland, in the Overijssel region, a Natura 2000 site, drained peat soils release stored carbon instead of holding onto it. The project team is raising water levels across an area the size of about 190 football pitches, restoring fens, and aims to bring back rare quaking bogs. The team will monitor greenhouse gas emissions alongside changes in habitats, plants and wildlife to better understand how peatland restoration affects both climate and biodiversity.
Turning garden waste into city funding (LIFE NATURECDR)
Municipalities often lack the money to green their cities and cut carbon emissions. The City of Amsterdam is turning urban landscaping waste into biochar, a charcoal-like material that locks away carbon while improving soil and water conditions. It can also help retain water in the soil and improve biodiversity. Selling carbon credits with recognised nature benefits from this biochar could open up a new funding stream for urban greening projects, with replication planned in Barcelona, Spain, and Berlin, Germany, during the project.
Smarter electric motors for Europe’s furniture makers (LIFE FURNEEMORE 2050)
Furniture manufacturers are often small businesses and many use inefficient, outdated electric motors for dust extraction, compressed air, ventilation, conveying and machining. LIFE FURNEEMORE 2050 partners will test a motor-system assessment and optimisation engine with furniture companies and machinery suppliers to improve equipment performance and services, while reducing energy use. The project will prepare the approach for replication in less energy-intensive manufacturing sectors with similar characteristics that together account for 48% of manufacturing electricity use.
More skilled workers for Dutch building renovation (LIFE Get-BUS-Done.nl)
The Netherlands needs more qualified people to install clean-energy technologies and renovate buildings. LIFE Get-BUS-Done.nl will strengthen the national BUILD UP Skills platform and retain and implement at least 25 of the 33 measures in a national plan to develop a dedicated renovation workforce. Public authorities, educators, employers and regional organisations will develop scalable training tools, clearer upskilling routes and job-coaching support. A nationwide campaign will promote energy-efficiency careers while regional partnerships help retain workers and bring new people into the professions needed for the country’s building transition.
Austria
Cool deliveries without forever chemicals (FGasFreeLIFE)
Refrigerated vans still rely on F-gases, powerful climate-warming chemicals that can leak and break down into persistent PFAS pollution. With its Italian partners, the Austrian lead FGasFreeLIFE team is developing safer transport refrigeration units by deploying a scalable, ultra-low charge natural refrigerant heat pump that uses less than 250 grams of natural refrigerant in a sealed system. The project aims to cut energy use by over 30%, reduce equipment weight by half and support the production of cleaner electric fleets across Europe.
Measuring appliance energy use in real homes (TRUE-LIFE)
EU energy labels rely on laboratory tests that don’t always reflect how people use appliances at home. TRUE-LIFE will equip at least 300 households in Austria, Bulgaria and Portugal with unobtrusive meters to track refrigerators, televisions and cooking appliances alongside behavioural, social and climate data. The team will compare real-life consumption with laboratory models and create harmonised lifecycle datasets. Its findings will support more realistic test methods, clearer consumer information and inform better EU eco-design and energy labelling rules.
Poland
Protecting reptiles and amphibians on Natura 2000 sites (Life HerpetofaunaPL25)
The project team aims to eliminate the risks faced by six vulnerable amphibian and reptile species and boost populations in Natura 2000 sites across Poland. Habitats and hibernation sites will be restored and protected by electric fences, reservoirs rebuilt and toad underpasses constructed. Lessons learned will be incorporated into a best practice guide for use by other conservation groups. The team will also run public information and education workshops.
Unlocking finance for public-building energy upgrades in Poland (LIFE CERT-ESCO-FIN)
Polish banks often consider energy performance contracts too risky to finance, and small energy service companies subsequently face rejected applications or unfavourable financing terms. LIFE CERT-ESCO-FIN will create a financing model for energy upgrades in public buildings, combining independent certification of projects and providers, a standardised credit-risk assessment tool and a guarantee fund, with three pilot projects testing the approach. By sharing risk and giving banks evidence of project reliability, the framework will improve access to finance and help authorities renovate more buildings.
Portugal
Controlling invasive water weeds (LIFE LUDWIGIA)
A dedicated management team will be recruited and trained to carry out field operations that will remove invasive alien aquatic plant species that pose serious threats to native flora and fauna in Natura 2000 sites in the Coimbra Region of Portugal. LIFE LUDWIGIA’s multi-level approach combines early detection and site-specific control and habitat restoration with biosafety protocols, commercial surveillance and citizens’ help to prevent reintroduction.
Optimising enforcement of the Environmental Crime Directive (LIFE ECOFORCE)
To support the implementation of the new Environmental Crime Directive, the eleven ECOFORCE project partners from six countries seek to strengthen the operational capacity of inspectors, law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges. The project will deliver practical tools and training and promote consistent interpretation of legal thresholds across Member States. Innovative tools such as earth observation and artificial intelligence will be translated into practical investigation instruments.
Replicating the PLAN-DO toolbox under the new EU wastewater directive (LIFE ReFitting)
Building on the experience of the previous LIFE Fitting project, LIFE ReFitting will support the wider replication of wastewater treatment using the PLAN-DO toolbox. The project’s four partners will develop additional treatment technologies to improve control of antimicrobial resistance, pharmaceutical metabolites, Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs), microplastics and contaminants of emerging concern. The project will build on pilot and full-scale results to validate advanced treatment processes, optimise monitoring strategies and deliver innovative tools and materials for wider replication.
Coordinated action on Mediterranean energy poverty (LIFE EP-MED)
High energy costs, low incomes and inefficient homes leave millions of Mediterranean households unable to stay warm or cool, harming their health and wellbeing. LIFE EP-MED will create or strengthen national energy-poverty observatories in Portugal, Italy, Spain and Cyprus and establish regional hubs in vulnerable areas. These structures will connect health, housing, social and energy services, improve monitoring and inform national strategies and regional action plans. Citizen participation will ensure support reflects local needs, including overlooked summer and island energy-poverty challenges.
Mobilising clean-energy investment for Portugal’s social institutions (LIFE SET-M)
Portugal’s Misericórdias provide care, healthcare, housing and community services from energy-intensive buildings, raising costs and affecting comfort. LIFE SET-M will prepare €33.6 million of energy-efficiency and renewable-energy investment, led by a demonstration programme at Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa. Tailored financing models, a permanent energy-transition hub and a national helpdesk will support delivery and replication. The resulting pipeline is expected to save at least 47.5 GWh of primary energy annually, produce 7.9 GWh of renewable energy and avoid around 6 400 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
Romania
Returning vultures to the Southern Carpathians (LIFE for VULTURES)
With vultures currently extinct in Romania, the national working group behind LIFE for VULTURES aims to reintroduce Griffon and Cinereous vultures in the South-Western Carpathians. Supported by anti-poison dog patrols, surveillance teams and efforts to make power lines safer, between 170-184 griffon and 24-40 cinereous vultures will be released. Local communities will be encouraged to develop tourist economies through intensive awareness raising and a public engagement programme.
Restoring mountains for wildlife, land and people (LIFE REFAG)
The team behind LIFE REFAG aims to restore populations of bison and vultures, two of Romania’s most iconic species. Re-wilding and restoration will be deployed across Natura 2000 sites in the Făgăraș mountains to strengthen the European bison population and support the reintroduction of Griffon vultures. Actions include drone-assisted planting, sustainable grazing, removing invasive alien species and traditional sheep farming.
Slovakia
Improving air quality with advanced tyre inflation technology (LIFE ECOPRESSURE)
Road freight transport is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and particulate air pollutants, which include microplastics from tyre wear. ECOPRESSURE’s nine project partners from Slovakia, the Netherlands and Germany will demonstrate an innovative automatic tyre inflation system that uses real-time emissions monitoring to optimise tyre pressure, improve fuel efficiency and extend tyre lifespan. The technology will be piloted in 280 vehicles in Slovakia, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, reducing carbon emissions by 1 540 tonnes of CO2 equivalent and particulate matter pollution by 1 tonne.
Putting building-skills plans into action in Slovakia and Czechia (LIFE DoubleDecker 2)
Skilled-worker shortages are slowing deep renovation, zero-emission construction and renewable-energy deployment in Slovakia and Czechia. LIFE DoubleDecker 2 will turn the countries’ 2030 building-skills plans into action by establishing permanent national qualification platforms that link government, educators, employers and organisational bodies. Updated vocational and lifelong training will cover technologies such as heat pumps, solar power, storage and building automation. More than one million people will be reached through awareness-raising activities, and 700 professionals will gain the skills needed for the clean energy transition in buildings.
Finland
Survival for the ringed seal (LIFE SOS)
Citizen engagement is at the heart of the LIFE SOS project to save the endangered Saimaa ringed seal in Finland. Building on previous LIFE projects, the team will integrate genomic computer modelling with volunteering, education, citizen science and community collaboration. Fishers will be encouraged to be seal-friendly and sustainable, and artificial snow drifts will be formed to create conditions that encourage seals to breed. Ecological and socio-economic data will feed into national and EU policies to ensure continuity beyond the project.
Extending the life of forest machinery through innovative recycling and remanufacturing (ExtendedLIFE)
Finnish machinery manufacturer Ponsse will use the ExtendedLIFE project to scale up recycling solutions for heavy machinery used in forestry. The company will establish a remanufacturing facility in Iisalmi, Finland, to make recycling operations faster, smarter and more cost-efficient. Their efforts will double the lifetime of forest machine parts and increase recycling rates by up to 93% while creating jobs for specialists in remanufacturing.
Preventing waste by re-styling, repairing, reusing at a circular economy hub (ICELIFE)
The reuse of textiles, wood products, construction timber and electronic waste is far lower in Finland than the rest of the EU; at around 2-3% compared to the EU average of 12-13%. ICELIFE’s seven project partners from Finland will develop a shopping-centre model to encourage reuse. The project will be piloted in a circular economy hub at the Matkus shopping centre complex in Kuopio with aims to replicate in other locations. The hub will offer consumers repair services, second-hand shopping for reuse and sharing-economy services including item renting and trading.
Closing the loop in Arctic mining with multi-commodity recovery, sustainable tailings management and zero chemical water treatment (LIFE MINERVA)
The LIFE-MINERVA project will demonstrate a breakthrough model for sustainable minerals processing under Arctic conditions, to support the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, the Zero Pollution Action Plan and the Water Framework Directive. It aims to validate an approach that maximises the recovery of multiple minerals while minimising waste, water use and greenhouse gas emissions. MINERVA’s project partners will establish a pilot plant to reduce the amount of mining waste from the Sokli mining area in the Eastern Lapland of Finland. The project team will extract phosphate, iron, rare earth elements and other minerals in a sustainable process that will convert tailings into cement binders and recyclable metals. Ultrasonic self-cleaning filters will remove ultrafine material from mine water so it can be recycled, reducing freshwater use by 36%.
Scaling up insect factories to turn biowaste into protein (LIFE VOLARE TURNKEY)
Millions of tonnes of agricultural and forestry biowaste are burned or allowed to rot each year, releasing greenhouse gases in the process. VOLARE TURNKEY’s 4 project partners from Finland, Sweden and France will build an industrial-scale facility that uses black soldier flies to convert sawdust, vegetable and grain waste, mushroom media and pulp residues into protein, oil and fertiliser. The project plans to open four facilities by 2034 to valorise one million tonnes of waste annually, avoiding carbon emissions equivalent to 1.7 million tonnes of CO2– – equivalent to 1.3% of emissions of all flights from EU airports. It will also safeguard 11,000 km² of land that would otherwise be used to grow protein or vegetable oils, while also creating more than 270 jobs for skilled workers in rural regions.
Turning plant waste into carbon-storing homes (LIFE CCC-BUILD)
Construction materials such as cement and steel create large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. LIFE CCC-BUILD will turn forestry and agricultural residues into carbon-storing bricks, tiles, interior panels and aggregates for concrete. The materials will be demonstrated in Europe’s first carbon-negative house in Espoo, Finland. The 160-180 m² home is expected to store 89-92 tonnes of carbon dioxide, offsetting the emissions from building a comparable house. At the targeted production scale, the materials could store up to 132 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
Sweden
Coordinated actions to reduce underwater noise from recreational crafts in the Baltic Sea (LIFE QuietWaters)
LIFE-QuietWaters aims to reduce underwater noise pollution from both current and future recreational boats in the Baltic Sea. By combining baseline assessments, pilot actions, stakeholder involvement, policy support, capacity building and awareness-raising, the seventeen project partners will support the EU’s ambition to achieve Good Environmental Status in marine waters, particularly under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).
Turning end-of-life textiles into next-generation materials (LIFE NEXTEX)
Blended textiles used in consumer clothing, such as cotton-polyester, is a particular challenge for the circular economy as it is difficult to recycle without significant material and quality loss. NEXTEX’s three project partners will demonstrate a patented chemical and mechanical approach that efficiently separates cotton and polyester in fabrics. The process turns cotton fibres into a cellulose-based biomaterial while the polyester is recovered for reuse. The demonstration plant will process 500 tonnes of mixed textiles every year.
Source – EU Commission