Funding Programme

LIFE is the EU’s funding programme dedicated to the environment and climate action.

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Call overview

The topic aims to support cities and regional authorities with the necessary capacity and skills to deliver and implement decarbonisation plans and strategies for the clean energy transition, which are critical for the industries, businesses and citizens in their territories.

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Objectives

The topic aims to support cities and regional authorities with the necessary capacity and skills to deliver and implement decarbonisation plans and strategies for the clean energy transition, which are critical for the industries, businesses and citizens in their territories.

Proposed actions should support cities and regional authorities in developing and reinforcing the specific capacities and skills needed to deliver on the clean energy transition and to achieve the specific targets. Proposed actions should consider complementarity and alignment with relevant initiatives, including, but not limited to the National Energy and Climate Plans, the National Building Renovation Plans and the Horizon Europe Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission. In addition, other technical assistance and capacity building initiatives should also be considered.

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See more details in the call document

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Activities that can be funded

• Implementation of integrated decarbonisation plans

• Accelerate and mainstream implementation of sustainable energy measures, in coordination with key stakeholders and with particular attention to vulnerable groups

• Development of methodologies, templates, blueprints and strategies for the preparation of local heating and cooling plans

• Building skills, facilitating access to and integration of relevant data, developing comprehensive outlooks on energy demand and supply, fostering a gradual and timely phase-out of fossil gas, engaging market participants and distribution system operators (DSOs) responsible for network decommissioning plans, accelerating administrative processes and bundling joint efforts of municipalities at regional or other appropriate governance and territorial levels.

See more details in the call document.

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Eligibility

In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:

+ be legal entities (public or private bodies)

+ be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:

• EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))

• non-EU countries: listed EEA countries and countries associated to the LIFE Programme (list of participating countries)

+ the coordinator must be established in an eligible country

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Consortium composition

Proposals must be submitted by at least 3 applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 3 different eligible countries.

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Duration

The project starting date and duration will be fixed in the Grant Agreement.

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Budget

The estimated available call budget is EUR 7 000 000.

Maximum 95% funding rate.

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