During the 2021-2027 period, the European Commission (EC) has set a target of at least 30% of its total budget dedicated to climate change. In the future, this budget share contributing to climate goals will continue to increase. Have you considered an environmental approach in your project? Because, regardless the sector, it probably has at least one! Bringing this hidden potential to the centre could be a strong benefit for your project and open new funding opportunities. Let’s enlighten it to reach higher success in European fundings.
The last IPPC report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of the United Nations body (IPPC) published late February 2022 has raised the alarm on the necessity to move towards a more adaptative and environmental-respectful society. Climate change is a current reality with impacts at all levels of society and across all sectors of the economy spreading at a lightning speed, in complex, compound and cascading forms.
However, risks can be lessened at a global scale by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and curbing global warming. Human society can adapt to mitigate climate change through a systemic adaptation, to save, restore and converse ecosystems by moving over to a more resilient state.
The EU has engaged itself to reach at least 55% net reduction in GHG emission by 2030 with the core aim to become climate resilient by 2050, pressuring the necessity to change our life and to turn innovation towards sustainable, respectful and climate zero impact solutions. The EU Adaptation Strategy arose from this baseline, aiming to foster international actions with smarter and swifter solutions.
In line with this targets, one of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, headings, is specifically focused on supporting environmental policy objectives, namely, heading N°3: Natural Resources and Environment with a budget envelop of 400.9 Bn split into different programmes. Among them, the LIFE programme is a key funding instruments exclusively centered on environment and climate actions. Even if at first sights, you think that this programme is not the good fit for your project, you should know that the scope of the programme covers a large range of priorities embedding nature, biodiversity, circular economy, climate mitigation and adaptation and even energy transition topics.
Environmental issues, a cross-cutting priority
Nonetheless, as a broader issue, environment is a cross cutting priority which pours out in mostly all programmes. For instance, Horizon Europe which is the main funding programme for research and innovation, the Pillar II named Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness received over 52 billion euros offering funding for projects with environmental scope under almost all clusters.
On another sector, Digital Europe Programme which aims to bring digital technologies to business, citizens and public administrations has been designed to meet two core challenges: making Europe greener and more digital. Here, the programme stresses how digital technologies, infrastructures can answer to environmental issues.
Under the Innovation Fund, one of the world’s largest funding programme for the demonstration of innovative and mature low carbon technologies: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is not only a bonus impact, it’s one of the determining award criteria.
With this large umbrella of funding opportunities, keep your eyes opens and put the positive environmental impacts of your project in front of the scene. This might allow you to reach funding opportunities you would not have thought about before.
In Zabala Innovation, an expert team is dedicated to Climate, Natural Resources and Environment which closely collaborates with all the different knowledge areas from industry, energy, to social innovation. With this specific cross-cutting position, we could help you to unlock and bring out the potential environmental benefits of your projects, increasing your chances to receive fundings.
