20 July 2012: The EU has issued a list of new projects funded by the LIFE Programme, which is the primary fiscal instrument the EU uses to fund environment and conservation projects contributing over €2.5 billion to over 3500 projects since its inception in 1992. The newly funded projects cover, inter alia: biodiversity and endangered species conservation; waste management and recycling; ecosystem and habitat conservation; water systems; adaptation to climate change; greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation; renewable energy and energy efficiency; air pollution; green transportation; soil degradation; and oceans and coasts.
Species-specific biodiversity projects include protection of the: stone-curlew, freshwater pearl mussel; manx shearwater; common tern; great snipe; capercaillie; scarce large blue and dusky large blue butterflies; thick shelled river mussel; Olympia’s ground beetle; Adriatic sturgeon, Cory’s shearwater; lesser kestrel; Corsican red deer; red-footed falcon; spadefoot toad; greater horseshoe bat; and Danube sturgeon. Other biodiversity projects seek to protect or restore threatened habitats. A number of projects focus on addressing risks to or improving management of Natura 2000 sites.
Several projects capture GHG emissions from landfills. Others address climate change mitigation through: the provision of sustainable heating and cooling; the development of small-scale renewable energy resources, geothermal energy and biomass energy; the building of carbon-neutral factories and offices; the reduction in N2O emissions from agriculture; and viable agroforestry carbon sequestration. Other projects focus on adaptation, such as improving urban resilience to climate change and developing adaptation toolkits.
On waste management, projects include: developing and deploying renewable and biodegradable packaging options; creating recycling processes for existing packaging materials; reducing bulky waste from landfill streams; promoting PET recycling and dematerialization of packages; campaigning on electronic waste (e-waste); and addressing food waste.
Projects addressing water resources include: restoring wetlands; reducing water pollution; introducing integrated rainwater protection; reducing eutrophication from agricultural runoff; improving sewage and wastewater treatment; restoring aquatic biodiversity; managing flood risk through ecological restoration; recycling and reclaiming wastewater; reducing water consumption; promoting integrated management; and increasing irrigation efficiency. [EU Press Release]