Division 4 LINKING THE GENERAL OBJECTIVES TO ACTION GRANTS UNDER THE SUB-PROGRAMME FOR CLIMATE ACTION

In line with the general objectives of the LIFE Regulation, and to ensure the required EU added value, the implementation of action grants will be linked to the three Climate Action priority areas mentioned in Article 13 of the LIFE Regulation: climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation and climate governance and information, as well as the specific objectives set out in Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the LIFE Regulation. Thematic priorities and project topics are not foreseen for action grants implemented under the sub-programme for Climate Action; however, relevant Climate Action policy areas are listed below and the annual calls for proposals also contain more detailed work areas in connection with the policy areas below.

The LIFE programme will contribute to the transformation of the Union into a low carbon and climate resilient society, by supporting the implementation of the EU's climate policy and preparing the EU for the climate action challenges in the coming years and decades. In this respect the priorities are: implementing the 2030 energy and climate framework and the Roadmap 2050 targets, as well as the Paris Agreement and adaptation policy. Emerging climate mitigation technology will be facilitated through best practice, demonstration and pilot projects with a view to successive funding in appropriate cases. EU climate policy will be firmly linked to local best practices and initiatives and showcase examples of new and better approaches to implement transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient society. To succeed, existing low carbon technologies/solutions should also be examined with regards to non-technological barriers which prevent market penetration. LIFE will also support the implementation of the EU climate change adaptation strategy so as to contribute to a more climate resilient Union^f1.

On climate mitigation, projects should demonstrate at national, regional or sub-regional level the implementation of low carbon strategies or land use management plans. This would include mainstreaming emission reduction and resource efficiency measures across sectors and promoting tools to incentivise behavioural change. Support will also be provided to the deployment of new approaches (model cities and regions), where relevant through the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy^f2, for producing, consuming and governing with transformational impact.

As regards the adaptation priority area, support for implementation of adaptation strategies should be provided, focusing on a number of key areas with EU added value, including projects at regional or cross-border level, and through ecosystem-based adaptation where relevant. Projects will have a demonstration and transferability potential and should address the promotion of innovative adaptation solutions, in particular through mobilising the private sector, and, where relevant through the Global Covenant of Mayors. Projects should also promote synergies between climate change adaptation and mitigation, as well as disaster risk reduction policies.

Current and future EU climate policy could be supported by applications in the following Climate Action policy areas:

1. (a)

   Climate Change Mitigation

   • Member States' and regional/local authorities' efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the sectors not covered in the EU Emissions Trading System (‘EU ETS’ Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council^f3) and in the Effort Sharing Decision (Decision No 406/2009/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council^f4): transport and fuels, agriculture, construction (e.g. energy efficiency in buildings), land use, land-use change and forestry,

   • the development and implementation of greenhouse gas accounting and climate change mitigation in the land use sector,

   • the development of land management practices which have an impact on emissions and removals of emissions, e.g. as supplementary measures to ones supported under the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF); Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council^f5,

   • actions which enhance the functioning of the emissions trading system and which have an impact on energy and greenhouse gas intensive industrial production,

   • fluorinated gases and ozone-depleting substances, in particular projects helping the implementation of the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali amendment and the EU Regulation on the fluorinated greenhouse gases, and/or

   • greenhouse gas monitoring and reporting by authorities.

2. (b)

   Climate Change Adaptation

   • urban adaptation and land use planning which limits the impacts of climate change,

   • resilience of infrastructure, including application of blue-green infrastructure and ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation,

   • sustainable management of water in drought-prone areas, flood and coastal management,

   • resilience of agricultural, forestry and tourism sectors, including in island and mountain areas, and/or

   • support to the EU's Outermost Regions: preparedness for extreme weather events, notably in coastal areas.

3. (c)

   Climate Governance and Information

   • development and implementation of national 2030 climate and energy strategies and/or mid-century strategies,

   • incentivising behavioural change, mainstreaming emission reduction and resource efficiency actions in sectors,

   • assessment by authorities of the functioning of the EU ETS,

   • building capacities, raising awareness among end-users and the equipment distribution chain of fluorinated gases,

   • climate policy monitoring, assessment and ex post evaluation, and/or

   • best practices and awareness-raising activities addressing adaptation needs.