LIFE programme awards: EU recognises best nature, environment and climate action projects

As part of the Europe’s biggest environmental event, the EU Green Week, the 2020 LIFE Awards Ceremony took place yesterday. Presented by the EU’s LIFE programme for environment and climate action, the awards honoured winners in three different categories from Slovenia (Nature Protection), Portugal (Environment), and Hungary (Climate Action). A special award recognising successful adaptation to COVID-19 went to an Italian project for its work in the time of coronavirus crisis. Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, said: “Actions speak louder than words, and these LIFE projects are proof of that. All these endeavours show that, with careful investment and a lot of hard work, Europe is ready to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises. Restoring the balance with nature is an essential step to becoming a resource-efficient, competitive, and climate-neutral economy.” Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, added: “The inspiring winners and finalists of these LIFE Awards show that solutions to the planetary challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, resource scarcity, and even health emergencies exist. LIFE projects combine technology, innovation, expertise, cooperation and lots of dedication to deliver smart solutions.  These individual success stories need to be replicated across the EU at speed and scale in order to help the EU achieve its ambitious EU Green Deal goals.” The LIFE Awards recognise the most innovative, inspirational and effective LIFE projects in the fields of nature protection, environment and climate action. The winning projects were selected from 15 finalists for their outstanding contribution to environmental, economic and social advancements. They also scored well in terms of impact, replicability, policy relevance, cross-border cooperation and cost-effectiveness. The LIFE programme has since 1992 co-financed about 5,400 projects across the EU and in third countries. More information on the awards is available here.