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EU Commission funds 225 new environment and climate projects

World Cement,


At the end of April, the European Commission approved funding for 225 new projects under the LIFE+ programme, the European Union's environment fund. The projects selected were submitted by beneficiaries in all 28 Member States and cover actions in the fields of nature conservation, climate change, environmental policy and information and communication on environmental issues across the EU. Overall, they represent a total investment of some €589.3 million, of which the EU will provide €282.6 million.

Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik said: “In the final year of the current programming period, the LIFE+ programme once again demonstrates its ability to deliver essential financial support for environmental and nature conservation projects with significant added value for the EU. These latest projects will make a vital contribution to the preservation, conservation and enhancement of Europe’s natural capital, as well as helping to achieve sustainable growth through investment in a low carbon and resource efficient economy. The widely acknowledged success of LIFE+ and its projects has ensured the recent adoption of a new LIFE Regulation for Environment and Climate Action, with an increased budget, for the period 2014-2020”

Programme components

The Commission received 1468 applications in response to its latest call for proposals, which closed in June 2013. Of these, 225 were selected for co-funding through the programme’s three components: LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity, LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance and LIFE+ Information and Communication.

LIFE+ Nature & Biodiversity projects improve the conservation status of endangered species and habitats. Of the 342 proposals received, the Commission selected 92 projects for funding from partnerships of conservation bodies, government authorities and other parties.

LIFE+ Information and Communication projects disseminate information and raise the profile of environmental issues. Of the 165 proposals received, the Commission selected for funding eight projects from a range of public and private sector nature and/or environment organisations.

LIFE+ Environment Policy & Governance projects are pilot projects that contribute to the development of innovative policy ideas, technologies, methods and instruments. Of the 961 proposals received, the Commission selected 125 projects for funding from a wide range of public and private sector organisations. The winning projects, led by project beneficiaries in 22 Member States, represent a total investment of €318.5 million, of which the EU will provide some €130.8 million.

Under this component, the Commission will contribute more than €41.2 million to 33 projects directly tackling climate change, with a total budget of €109.4 million. The selected projects are situated in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Projects in this category that directly relate to the cement industry are outlined below.

  • LIFE+ NOWASTHEM (Holcim France S.A.S): This project aims to demonstrate an innovative co-generation solution to unite cement production with the recycling of mixed coarse solid waste. The energy produced by a thermal waste pre-treatment process (pyro-gasification) will be used for production purposes, which will result in substantial fossil fuel savings.
  • LIFE CARWASTE (PAL srl): The project plans to develop and demonstrate an innovative technology and process to facilitate the re-use of ‘fluff’ materials in cement and steel plants in line with the lifecycle management of end-of-life vehicles. It will design and construct a pilot plant that aims to finely separate small shredded car waste materials and to recover and recycle component materials for the production of high quality fuel for cement and steel plants, meeting EU regulations on standards for solid recovered fuels.

Further details about all the LIFE projects can be found here.


Adapted from EU Commission press releases by

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/13052014/eu_commission_funds_new_life_programme_projects_180/

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