The European Parliament has voted to boost funding for the environment and climate action with the aim to protect the natural habitat, mitigate climate change and support clean energy transition with boosted energy efficiency and a higher share of renewables in the bloc’s energy mix. This will help equip the EU with more tools to pursue green goals and seek to become more climate neutral by 2050.
The funding has been increased for the EU’s LIFE program, the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action created in 1992. The current funding period 2014-2020 has a budget of €3.4 billion. The LIFE program is among the programs for which Brussels has proposed the biggest budget increase for 2021-2027, while also aiming to have at least 25% of EU expenditure across all EU programs going towards climate-related objectives. It should contribute to climate objectives such as helping move towards a resource-efficient, low carbon and climate resilient economy, reverse biodiversity loss and improve the quality of the environment.
EU Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella commented that the program “plays a crucial role in identifying how best to transform our economies to meet the needs of the 21st century and to tackle problems such as nature degradation, air and water pollution and waste creation and disposal”. The position of the European Commission is such that in order to provide a better quality of life for Europeans and invest more in a sustainable future, an unprecedented effort needs to be made to protect climate and the environment. This will also help the bloc deliver on its commitments under the Paris climate deal and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
