EU Announces Next Life+ Funding Round

LIFE + programme is the European Union’s main fund for supporting environmental projects. With a budget of €2.143 billion, Life + (2007 -13) will address all four priority areas of the Sixth Environment Action Programme.

These are:

• Climate change
• Nature and biodiversity
• Health and quality of life
• Natural resources and waste

LIFE+ funding is available to both public and private bodies registered in the EU. It is suggested by the Commission that potential applicants start preparing their 2010 proposals already on the basis of the 2009 application package. It is however very important that the final version submitted in 2010 uses only the 2010 application forms and follows all the instructions in the 2010 application guide (these will be made available on 5 May 2010 on the Life+ web site).

Previously supported projects include:

Groundwork Sheffield which received funding to address climate change by increasing the quality of green roofs. Measures foreseen include the establishment of a UK green roof code of best practice and the encouragement of its adoption through a Green Roof Innovation Awards scheme

Business Solutions Europa Limited which received funding to produce and promote animated cartoons to help European children learn more about the environment, sustainability and climate change.

The provisional closing date for applications will be the 1st September 2010.

Further details at http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm