The LIFE Programme is the European Union’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action. Managed by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Environment and Directorate-General for Climate Action, the general objective of LIFE is to contribute to the implementation, updating and development of EU environmental and climate policy and legislation by co-financing projects with European added value. The LIFE Programme is open to any EU registered public body operating under a national government’s authority; private commercial organisation and private non-commercial organisation.

The LIFE Programme 2014-2020 has a budget of €3.4 billion and is divided into two sub-programmes, one for environment (representing 75% of the overall financial envelope) and one for climate action (representing 25% of the envelope). Large territorial scale projects are funded under the category ‘jointly funded integrated projects’.