LIFE programme is a European programme for implementation of sustainable and innovative improvements of environmental quality and climate change. Any legal entity may qualify for this funding by submitting project proposals.
The objective of this program is to promote, update, develop and implement EU environmental and climate policy by co-financing projects with EU's added value, by granting co-financing to projects that meet the goals of the LIFE program and provide additional added value at the level of the European Union. This programme is subject to the Regulation (EU) No. 1293/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of a Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE).
The LIFE programme has been operating in Latvia since 2001, and 46 projects have been successfully implemented with its support.
The total available investments over the LIFE programme funding period 2014-2020 is EUR 3.4 billion. National co-funding is also available for the implementation of the approved projects.
Any legal entity — entrepreneurs, social organisations, local governments, and non-governmental organisations — planning for innovative and sustainable improvements may qualify for this funding by submitting project proposals.
The LIFE programme offers very broad support. Although historically such support has mainly been used by the non-governmental organisations for the implementation of nature conservation projects in Latvia, the novelty of this year’s call — "products ready for market" in environmental and climate technologies — is a convenient and available way for private entrepreneurs to introduce new products or technologies under the LIFE programme.
The LIFE programme is structured in two sub-programmes:
1. The sub-programme for Environment, with the financial envelope in the amount of 1.3 billion EUR for projects from 2014 to 2017. The main priorities of the sub-programme for Environment are:
Environment and Resource Efficiency;
Nature and Biological Diversity;
Environmental Governance and Information.
2. The sub-programme for Climate Action, with the financial envelope in the amount of 449 million EUR for projects from 2014 to 2017. The main priorities of the sub-programme for Climate Action are:
Climate Change Mitigation;
Climate Change Adaptation;
Climate Governance and Information.