LIFEnews spoke recently to the European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, about the LIFE programme and its impact.
European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella.
Question: The European Environment Agency's State and Outlook 2015 Report (SOER 2015) was very complimentary about the positive impact of EU environment policies. How has the LIFE programme contributed to that achievement?
I was pleased to see that hard evidence presented in SOER 2015 shows the positive impact of EU environment policies in areas which very directly influence the quality of life for our citizens such as air and water quality and waste reduction. LIFE has made an important contribution in all these areas. Water has been one of the thematic priorities of the LIFE programme – with an impressive number of some 1 000 LIFE projects to date which made a vital contribution to the implementation of legislation such as the Water Framework Directive. Air has also been an important focus, with more than 300 LIFE projects targeting air quality improvements.
Implementation of waste policy is another area where LIFE played a significant role. Waste reduction is important not only because it lessens the negative environmental impacts of burying waste in the ground; it also contributes to our objective of shifting from a linear to a circular economy, where almost nothing is wasted, where the re-use and remanufacturing of products has become standard practice, and where sustainability is built into the fabric of society. As a result, we have less waste to deal with, we can generate more from given resources and we will develop and apply new technologies that will improve Europe's competitive position in the world. LIFE has done some valuable work in this regard. For instance, a project in Spain established a recycling chain which takes the glass from obsolete cathode ray tube televisions and monitors and converts it into a product that can be used in the ceramics industry.
In a circular economy reducing waste is our top priority. That’s why I agreed to become a patron of the European Week for Waste Reduction, an annual initiative that was started through LIFE. The LIFE programme has also played a vital role in the growth of the car-free days movement in Europe and has proved its worth as a tool for transnational awareness-raising and capacity-building for a host of environmental and nature conservation issues.
When looking at the programme as a whole, it’s also important to highlight the contribution that LIFE Nature has made in halting the likely extinction of several species and improving the conservation status of a number of habitats, thereby contributing to the EU's goal of halting biodiversity loss. In addition, the LIFE programme was instrumental in the establishment of the Natura 2000 network and assists with the management of more than 5 000 Natura 2000 network sites across the EU.
Question: The SOER 2015 also highlights the importance of integrated policy-making. The LIFE programme 2014-2020 introduces so-called Integrated Projects for the first time (i.e. projects that aim to implement on a large territorial scale plans and strategies required by EU legislation in the areas of nature, water, waste and air). What do you expect such projects to be able to achieve that traditional LIFE projects cannot?
Integrated Projects were introduced in order to be able to implement environmental legislation and goals on a wider scale and to increase the impact of the LIFE programme. They provide funding for plans, programmes and strategies developed on the regional, multi-regional or national level. Building on LIFE’s existing strengths, water, waste and air are three of the thematic areas targeted, along with nature and mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
Working at this larger scale is inevitably more challenging, but at the end of the day we want to achieve greater impact. The success of Integrated Projects will depend on inclusiveness – working with stakeholders – the ability to mobilise other funds, both EU and non-EU, and sustainability. I believe that Integrated Projects represent the way forward for LIFE and they can add value also through helping to further integrate environmental concerns into other EU policies. The first round of Integrated Projects will be announced later this year and I look forward to seeing how they will deliver on their promise.
Question: The LIFE programme 2014-2020 includes some other innovations, most notably two new financial instruments that are managed by the European Investment Bank, the Private Finance for Energy Efficiency (PF4EE) and Natural Capital Financing Facility (NCFF). What were the drivers behind the decision to introduce these? What do you hope to achieve through these two facilities in terms of reaching the overall goals of this Commission, namely maintaining Europe's competitiveness and creating sustainable jobs that preserve Europe's natural resources?
Europe needs more investment, in nature as well as in energy efficiency. This is why we have created these two instruments. Let me tell you more about the NCFF. It will provide loans directly to businesses and indirectly through financial intermediaries and equity through investment funds to support innovative green business proposals that would normally struggle to obtain financing from commercial banks because of their risk profile.
When setting up these instruments, the idea was to give concrete examples of how biodiversity, climate adaptation and economy can be mutually beneficial. The investment will show how protecting natural capital can create jobs and give European industry a competitive edge. The budget of the new Facility is not enormous as it is a pilot scheme, but the projects will receive further financing from the EIB and from private sources. The Facility will aim at providing proof of the concept so that commercial investment in green businesses becomes more widespread.
Question: Where does LIFE fit into the wider funding picture in terms of green jobs and growth?
LIFE supports projects that help citizens and governments green their economies. It aims to demonstrate how environmental technologies can become a vital, integral part of a modern, progressive economy. LIFE projects contribute to the development of green jobs and skills in many sectors of the economy – packaging, waste processing and end-of-life vehicles are a few that spring to mind. In addition, LIFE helps to reorient existing production methods and processes towards environmental priorities leading to 'green restructuring' and helping to plug the green skills gap.
LIFE has an important financial leverage effect and it has the potential to mobilise other resources for environmental projects. Investment plays a crucial role in the transition to a green economy: innovative financing mechanisms such as the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) – an initiative of the European Commission and the European Investment Bank – are potential tools for supplying the needed funds. Right investment choices can have lasting implications for the sustainability of green alternative technologies.
The combination of traditional and Integrated Projects plus the new financial instruments mean that LIFE should make a greater contribution to the development of the green economy until 2020 than ever before.
Question: What impact will the review of EU environmental and nature conservation legislation have on the LIFE programme?
It’s too early to say. In terms of environmental legislation, the overall aim is to combine robust policy with a minimum necessary administrative burden to incentivise businesses to develop greener technologies and processes – through LIFE and other funding streams.
We are now carrying out a Fitness Check of EU nature legislation, the Birds and Habitats directives. This legislation dates back to 1979 and 1992, respectively, and although it has continuously evolved, through case law and so forth, it is important to ensure that it is still fit for purpose. We are assessing the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, relevance and EU added value of the directives, and are inviting views from the public about these issues in a public consultation which is open until 24 July.
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