~€300M For Environment & Climate Action Projects
The LIFE 2026 Standard Action Projects call funds best-practice, demonstration, and pilot projects across nature, circular economy, and climate. 60-75% EU co-financing for 2-5 year projects.
What Are LIFE Standard Action Projects?
LIFE Standard Action Projects (SAP) fund best-practice, demonstration, and pilot projects that address key environmental and climate challenges across Europe. These are the most common LIFE project type, supporting practical solutions in nature conservation, circular economy, and climate action.
The 2026 call is expected to open in April with approximately €300M across three strands. Nature and Biodiversity projects receive 75% co-financing, while Circular Economy and Climate Action projects receive 60%.
What Gets Funded
- Nature restoration & biodiversity
- Circular economy solutions
- Air & water quality improvement
- Climate change mitigation
- Climate adaptation strategies
- Pilot & demonstration projects
- Best-practice transfer
Is This Grant For You?
You Qualify If
- Your project addresses environment or climate challenges
- Your organisation is a public or private legal entity in the EU, EEA, or LIFE-associated countries
- Your project demonstrates innovative approaches, best practices, or pilot solutions
- You can co-finance 25-40% of the project costs
- You work in environment, nature conservation, climate, circular economy, or related sectors
Not For You If
- Your project is pure research without practical application
- Your organisation is outside the EU/EEA/associated countries
- Your project focuses on energy technology R&D (see CET call instead)
- Your project requires more than €30M in EU funding
Three Strands, One Call
Nature and Biodiversity
Habitat restoration, species conservation, Natura 2000 management. 75% co-financing rate.
Circular Economy and Quality of Life
Waste reduction, resource efficiency, air and water quality, chemical safety. 60% co-financing rate.
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
GHG emissions reduction, climate resilience, adaptation planning. 60% co-financing rate.
Which lot fits your project? Let's discuss.
Our Support Packages
Eligibility & Strategy
- Eligibility assessment
- Strand recommendation
- Application strategy memo
- Go/no-go recommendation
- Delivered in 5 business days
Proposal Development
- Everything in Eligibility & Strategy
- Full proposal development
- Budget and workplan preparation
- Impact quantification methodology
- eProposal portal submission
- Mock evaluation scoring
- Post-submission support
Aligned incentives. We succeed when you do.
Partner With UsPost-Award
For successful applicants
- Compliance monitoring
- Progress & financial reporting
- Audit preparation
- CINEA relationship management
Important Dates
Frequently Asked
Can a single organisation apply?
Yes. Both single applicants and small consortia (2-5 partners is typical) are eligible.
What's the difference between SAP strands?
Each strand has its own budget and thematic scope: Nature and Biodiversity (75% funding), Circular Economy and Quality of Life (60%), and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation (60%). Choose the one that best fits your project.
How competitive is LIFE?
In 2025, LIFE received 1,095 SAP applications — a 22% increase. Success rates vary by strand but are typically 15-25%.
How is the proposal evaluated?
Proposals are scored on four criteria with different weightings: Relevance (1x), Impact (1.5x), Implementation (1x), and Team (1x).
Is this a loan or grant?
This is a grant — no repayment required. EU co-financing covers 60-75% of eligible costs.
What co-financing is needed?
You need to provide 25% (Nature strand) or 40% (other strands) co-financing. This can include own funds, in-kind contributions, or other non-EU sources.
Environment or
Climate Project?
~€300M in funding. Let's discuss your project.