STAND WITH LIFE

According to recent publications of the European Environment Agency, Europe is facing accelerating climate change and biodiversity loss. At this critical moment, we cannot afford to weaken the European Union’s only programme exclusively dedicated to environment, climate action and nature conservation.

Since 1992, the LIFE Programme has delivered real, concrete results. It supports local authorities, businesses, researchers and civil society organisations working on the ground to protect nature, reduce emissions and drive the green transition.

There are now discussions about folding LIFE into a broader funding structure under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). This would risk weakening its visibility, diluting its impact, and undermining a proven delivery model. Indeed, the Commission review of the 2014–2020 LIFE Programme of 2024 has highlighted that LIFE projects had improved the conservation status of 435 species while cutting greenhouse gas and nitrogen oxides pollution, yielding a tenfold return on the €3.46 billion invested over the seven years to 2020. Environmental ambition requires more than “mainstreaming”. It requires dedicated, ring-fenced funding. LIFE plays a unique role in bridging the gaps between research and large-scale implementation and between local territories and policy making, and in addressing market failures in environmental protection.

We call on the European Parliament and the Council to:

Guarantee a standalone LIFE Programme in the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
Protect LIFE in its autonomy, visibility and effectiveness.
Secure a strengthened and ring-fenced budget.
A strong and independent LIFE Programme is essential to deliver Europe’s climate and environmental commitments.

Stand with LIFE. Protect Europe’s future.

N.B. Please, if you are signing on behalf of an association, organization, company, or group, please indicate it in the comment when you sign.