The Financial Instrument for the Environment (LIFE+) is the European Commissions funding vehicle for initiatives seeking to aid the development in climate change, environmental policy and communication within European Union Member States.
225 environmental and climate projects have been awarded funding totalling 282.6 million (231.63 million), including three resource-focussed projects aimed at improving environmental policy and guidance in the UK.
The successful projects, announced last week (April 30) including an innovative organic waste treatment process being developed by waste firm Shanks and a waste crime intelligence gathering initiative being carried out by SEPA.
LIFE SysSpirit Shanks Groups organic waste project aims to demonstrate a new anaerobic fermentation process through which organic waste streams combined with low quality crude glycerine can be efficiently converted into a high value bio-methanol.
Resource efficiency
It is hoped that the project will aid resource efficiency efforts by connecting a biological anaerobic digestion process for crude glycerine with a sustainable thermochemical production for bio-methanol based on high quality glycerine, resulting in the efficient conversion of a low-value by-product into a value renewable product.
Meanwhile, SEPA has been awarded a share of the pot for its LIFE SMART Waste project, which will aim to demonstrate innovative ways to tackle waste crime by developing intelligence gathering techniques. The project will also aim to understand issues associated with dealing with challenging waste streams.
Finally, LCRN has been awarded funding for a project aimed at supporting residents in creating their own social enterprises, turning redundant spaces into reuse hubs to collect, store and repair bulky reuse items and provide alternatives to illegal dumping/fly-tipping.
Shanks, LCRN and SEPA are among the 11 UK-based projects sharing in a total of 49.7 million (40.7 million). Other recipients include WWF UK, Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage.
Commenting on the latest round of funding Environment Commissioner Janez Potonik, 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.
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These latest projects will make a vital contribution to the preservation, conservation and enhancement of Europes 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 2014-2015.
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