#LIFEis33: celebrating a third of a century of green innovation

Today the LIFE programme —the EU’s flagship initiative to drive improvements in the environment and climate — turns a third of a century old.  Launched in 1992 the programme has supported more than 6 000 ground-breaking projects, striving to make Europe a cleaner, greener and healthier place.Millions of people across Europe have benefit from improved air quality and are better equipped to cope with the effects of climate change, thanks to the work and collaboration of many projects funded by LIFE, according to the latest performance assessment of the programme. This success has been made possible by the strong commitment of institutions and local actors. LIFE projects have restored nature and protected biodiversity on millions of hectares of land and contributed to Europe-wide reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), alongside increasing the use of renewable energy and boosting energy efficiency.   This is all thanks to the thousands of businesses, researchers, government departments, local communities and individuals across the EU who have contributed to LIFE’s success. And this year will be no exception. In April, the European Commission adopted the work programme for implementing the LIFE Programme in 2025-2027, establishing an overall budget of €2.3 billion for projects tackling circular economy, achieving zero pollution, improving nature and biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, and supporting clean energy. It included a record sum dedicated to climate...