LIFE Programme
EU's Programme for Environment and Climate Actions
Target group
Municipalities, companies, NGOs, and public institutions.
Objectives
The LIFE Programme is the EU's funding instrument for the environment and climate action. Iceland has been a participating country in the programme since 2021, allowing Icelandic parties to have the opportunity to apply for grants.
Deadlines
Calls for proposals are published annually, generally in April with deadlines in September.
The LIFE Calls for proposals 2025 will be published on 24 April (tentative date). For a list of calls and deadlines, please see CINEA's announcement.
Information on open calls can be found in the Funding & Tenders Portal, including deadlines and call documents with detailed information about the grant.
Info Days and networking
The 2025 LIFE calls will be be presented at the EU LIFE Info Days, planned from 13 to 15 May 2025.
Networking opportunities in the format of 1:1 bilateral virtual meetings
among potential applicants are available during the period from 13
May to 30 September 2025.
Open Funding & Tenders Portal
IS
What are the objectives?
The LIFE programme began in 1992, but Iceland began participating in 2021. The current period of the programme covers the years 2021-2027 and there is over 5.4 billion Euros to be allocated during the period. The plan is divided into four sub-programmes:
- Climate change adaptation and mitigation
- Nature and biodiversity
- Circular economy and quality of life
- Clean energy transition
The main focus areas of the LIFE program until the year 2027
- Climate change adaptation and mitigation: The sub-programme will contribute to the shift towards a sustainable, energy-efficient, renewable energy-based, climate-neutral and resilient economy, thereby contributing to sustainable development. Almost 1 billion Euros will be allocated for the period 2021 - 2027.
Info-Session Video
- Nature and biodiversity: The sub-programme will aim at the protection and restoration of Europe's nature and halting and reversing biodiversity loss. Thus, the LIFE Nature and Biodiversity sub-programme will continue to fund nature conservation projects, in particular in the areas of biodiversity, habitats and species. More than 2.1 billion Euros will be allocated in the period 2021 - 2027.
Info-Session Video
- Circular economy and quality of life: The sub-programme aims at facilitating the transition toward a sustainable, circular, toxic-free, energy-efficient and climate-resilient economy and at protecting, restoring and improving the quality of the environment, either through direct interventions or by supporting the integration of those objectives in other policies. More than 1.3 billion Euros will be allocated in the period 2021-2027.
Info-Session Video
- Clean energy transition: The sub-programme continues to support the delivery of EU policies in the field of sustainable energy, in particular, the European Green Deal, the Energy Union (2030 energy and climate targets) and the European Union's 2050 long-term decarbonisation strategy.
Info-Session Video
Who can apply?
Municipalities, companies, NGOs, institutions.
