La lista aggiornata dei progetti finanziati da LIFE al 2023 è disponibile a questo link:
Di seguito trovate la lista dei progetti LIFE con capofila organizzazioni italiane, presentati nell’ambito del bando a finanziamento diretto LIFE scaduto nel 2018 e approvati nel 2019. Fonte Commissione Europea.
Se cerchi i progetti che ho sviluppato personalmente visita questa pagina
Nature (NAT)
Saving the critically
endangered Sicilian fir (LIFE4FIR)
The Parco delle Madonie in northern Sicily hosts the world’s only
natural population of the Sicilian fir (Abies nebrodensis). Classed as
critically endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s
Red List, the species’ relict population comprises just 30 adult trees and 165
saplings. These are threatened by extensive grazing, cross-breeding with
non-native fir species, and the poor state of health of individual plants. The
LIFE4FIR project team, led by the National Research Council of Italy, aims to
strengthen the genetic diversity of this highly endangered fir. It will protect
the existing trees and carry out reforestation work, as well as establishing a
seed bank to safeguard the species’ future.
Supporting biodiversity in the
Brenta river basin (LIFE Brenta 2030)
Biodiversity in the Natura 2000 site Medio Corso del Fiume Brenta, in
the Veneto region of Italy, is adversely affected by a variety of man-made
impacts. These include agricultural run-off and water contamination,
alterations to rivers caused by gravel mining, extraction of freshwater for
irrigation and drinking water, and the fragmentation of habitats. Coordinated
by the public utility company ETRA, this LIFE project aims to create new
wetland habitats, including humid meadows and alluvial forests, restore aquatic
ecosystems, and protect several bird and amphibian species.
Tackling invasive species in
the Tuscan Archipelago (LIFE LETSGO GIGLIO)
The biodiversity of Giglio island in the Tuscan Archipelago is
threatened by several invasive alien species, such as the mouflon (Ovis
aries), the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and the
yellow-bellied slider turtle (Trachemys scripta). These degrade the
island’s grassland and forest habitats, in turn affecting protected bird
species. LIFE LETSGO GIGLIO will tackle the invaders, eradicating the mouflon
and slider turtle, and intensively managing the rabbit population. This should
improve the overall ecosystem quality as well as the conservation status of
protected habitats and species, in line with the EU Birds and Habitats
directives, EU legislation on invasive alien species, and the EU biodiversity strategy.
New Europe-wide alpine wolf
management practices (LIFE WOLFALPS EU)
Efforts to coordinate wolf management set up under a previous LIFE
project have not yet led to an overall conservation approach for the wolf in
the Alps, mainly because institutions remain fragmented. The alpine wolf
population continues to suffer from poisoning, conflicts with livestock owners
and hunters, and interbreeding with dogs. The LIFE WOLFALPS EU project team
will set up five international groups to coordinate technical, scientific and
other conservation activities. It will also train 2 000 supervisors on wolf
surveillance and explore ways to reduce conflict hotspots though preventative
measures and education, working alongside hunters.
Eradicating rats and other invasives
to protect seabirds (LIFE DIOMEDEE)
The objective of the project is to protect seabirds and habitats, listed
in the EU Birds Directive and Habitats Directive from the threat of invasive
non-native species, in Natura 2000 sites in the Gargano National Park, Italy.
The project team will eradicate the black rat in the Diomedee Islands to
improve the conservation status of shearwater species. The national park
authority will also eradicate the invasive non-native blue crab that threatens
aquatic habitats, eradicate the South African ragwort that threatens protected
dry grassland habitats, and control the spread of Ailanthus altissima and
other invasive plant species that threaten the park’s biodiversity.
Restoring dry grassland
habitats to boost biodiversity (LIFE DRYLANDS)
The project aims to restore dry-acidic Continental open habitats in
eight Nature 2000 sites of the western Po plain in Italy, including three
habitat types listed in the EU Habitats Directive: inland dunes, European dry
heaths and semi-natural dry grasslands. The project team, coordinated by staff
at the University of Pavia, will restore characteristic features of these
habitats, such as bare soil areas, and increase plant diversity through
re-planting. The project team will also create ecological corridors to reduce
habitat fragmentation and increase connectivity, and control the invasive woody
plant species that cause biodiversity loss.
Promoting shark-friendly
fishing gear (LIFE ELIFE)
Since the 1980s, cartilaginous fish, such as sharks, skates, rays, have
increasingly been caught as accidental by-catch in the Mediterranean Sea, by
commercial fisheries using bottom trawl nets and longlines. The LIFE ELIFE
project team, led by Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohm, will protect endangered
shark and ray species by promoting best practices in these fisheries
operations, and by carrying out demonstration actions in Italian harbours. The
project team aim at reducing the mortality of species, such as sandbar shark
and basking shark, through the introduction of low-impact fishing gear, and
will work with fishermen to facilitate its introduction.
Reducing human impacts on sea
turtles (MEDTURTLES)
The project aims to improve the conservation status of the EU
populations of two sea turtles, Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas,
that are listed as conservation priority species in the EU Habitats Directive.
The project team will reduce the impact of human activities, including
commercial fishing, by modifying fishing gear and establishing voluntary best
practices on fishing boats, in turtle foraging grounds in Spain, Italy,
Tunisia, Turkey and Albania, and on nesting beaches in Spain and Albania. This
will help secure long-term protection of suitable nesting habitats and ensure
that young turtles survive to maintain healthy populations. The project will
also establish a network of sea turtle research and conservation organisations,
and raise citizen awareness about Mediterranean Sea turtle conservation.
Supporting the red kite in
Italy and on Corsica (LIFE MILVUS)
The red kite (Milvus milvus) population is declining in its main nesting
areas of Spain, France and Germany, although increasing in some other European
countries. In Italy, it was once a common species but today the red kite’s
distribution is highly fragmented. In the Aspromonte National Park in Calabria,
no nesting pairs have been recorded, while in Corsica (France), the red kite is
listed as near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature
Red List of breeding birds. The LIFE MILVUS project team, led by the national
park authority, aims to reintroduce a self-sustaining red kite population into
the Aspromonte National Park and promote long-term conservation of the species
in Corsica.
Beneficial flooding in the Venetian
lagoon (LIFE FORESTALL)
LIFE FORESTALL will protect and manage Natura 2000 sites in the Valle
Averto Oasis in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy. The project team will restore
existing patches, and create new areas, of the EU Habitats Directive
‘Calcareous fens’ and ‘Alluvial forests’ priority habitats. The non-profit
organisation CORILA and other project partners will improve water level
regulation and circulation, especially in flood areas, to favour the
development of the target habitats. They will also reduce the occurrence of
invasive plant species, particularly black locust and sea myrtle, and the Wels
catfish that threatens the fish community of the Valle Averto Oasis. The
project’s plan to install rafts should also increase the occurrence of breeding
bird species.
Environment (ENV)
Genetic and biodiversity model
to give foresters better sustainable management tools (LIFE SySTEMIC)
Healthy forests need to be genetically diverse so they can be resilient
to environmental changes. But up to 60% of threatened forest habitats in the EU
are under threat from fragmentation, unsustainable management, invasive species
and more. These reduce biodiversity and the ability of Europe’s forests to
adapt. Forestry researchers from the University of Florence, who coordinate
LIFE SySTEMIC, will build a new genetic biodiversity and silvicultural model to
help foresters manage forests more sustainably. The project team will put this
into practice in three different EU countries.
Better air quality in large
pig sheds for healthier animals and workers (LIFE-MEGA)
Intensive pig farming makes up the majority of European swine
production, but it has a heavy impact in terms of water, soil and air
pollution. Large pig sheds develop poor air quality, with especially high levels
of ammonia, methane, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds. This
poor air quality harms the health of both animals and workers. Environmental
scientists from the University of Milan, running LIFE-MEGA, will develop an
online tool to monitor air pollutant concentrations in pig sheds and keep them
below a threshold. They will also test two different cleaning prototypes,
leading to reductions in ammonia and particulate matter by 70% and 80%,
respectively.
Looking for reduction on tyre
noise levels from electric vehicles (LIFE E-VIA)
Electric cars could bring many benefits compared to combustion-engine
vehicles, including less noise. Noise pollution affects many Europeans.
However, little work has been done on tyre noise from electric cars. In the
municipality of Florence, which will run the LIFE E-VIA project, researchers
will assess noise levels from different electric and hybrid vehicles using two
special test road surfaces, including a surface designed to minimise noise. The
project team will also evaluate the CO2 savings from vehicle tyres running on optimised,
low-noise road surfaces.
Enhance, nurture and vitalise
crops to increase yield and healthy plant growth (LIFE ENVISION)
To feed a rising world population, agriculture needs to become more
productive. But it must do this in the context of the changing climate, the
need to save water and minimise inorganic pesticide input. One answer could be
biostimulants – formulas made from micronutrients such as organic acids or
plant nutrients – to improve the efficiency of plant growth. The LIFE ENVISION
team will test new biostimulants on cereals, sugar beet, corn, strawberries and
tomatoes. It is expected this will lead to an increase in yields in the pilot
areas of 15%, while water consumption will be reduced by 9% and fungicide use
by 65%. The project will be led by SCL Italia, an agricultural chemicals and
products company.
Mother and infant dyads:
Lowering the impact of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in milk for a healthy
life (LIFE Milch)
Human exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), or chemicals
that interfere with the hormone system, occurs from the moment of conception
onwards. Unborn babies and infants could be especially vulnerable to the
substances. Under LIFE Milch, researchers from the neuroscience unit at the
University of Parma will improve knowledge about the correlation between levels
of maternal exposure to EDCs or milk contamination and the health status of
infants. They will study the extent of EDC contamination of mothers and
children in rural and urban areas in Italy, and make recommendations to
companies and policymakers on ways of reducing exposure.
Closing the loop for carbon
fibres from vehicles (LIFE-CIRCE)
The use of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites in the
transport sector has grown rapidly, enabling light-weight and more
fuel-efficient vehicles. However, there are still crucial barriers to overcome,
in terms of reclaiming complex fibre scraps and recycling the material for the market.
A team from HP Composites, a company which designs CFRP, will demonstrate how
scraps of CFRP that have been impregnated with resins can be used in different
sectors without the need for complicated energy-intensive reprocessing, thus
lowering raw material and manufacturing costs. The project team will design and
construct two pilot machines to process CFRP and make it reusable in new
products, and prove their technical and economic viability.
Recycling absorbent hygiene
products into raw materials (LIFE HUB’n’SPOKE (H&S))
Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHPs), including nappies and sanitary pads,
are considered non-recyclable in municipal waste and are thus landfilled or
incinerated. But 30% of this waste by weight comprises plastics, cellulose
fibre and superabsorbent polymer, all having huge potential as secondary raw
materials (SRMs). LIFE HUB’n’SPOKE (H&S) partners will set up a pilot plant
to demonstrate the feasibility of reusing materials from AHP waste in consumer
products such as printing paper or plastic pellets. The project team will
foster markets for SRM in Europe by creating a new circular economy model based
on an innovative AHP waste collection and pre-treatment system. They will also
work to optimise the technology used as well as the supply connections between
relevant industries. The project will be coordinated by Fater SpA, an Italian
AHP manufacturer.
Innovative process turns green
waste into biogas and fertiliser (LIFE STEAM)
Green waste, consisting of leaves, wood cuttings, cut grass and
agricultural residues, has high potential for biofuel production through
anaerobic digestion. However, the predominance of non-soluble fibres made of
lignin, called lignocellulosic fibres, currently means such waste is difficult
to degrade, and much is landfilled or incinerated. LIFE STEAM aims to
demonstrate a pilot plant that uses an innovative steam explosion technology to
convert low-value lignocellulosic green waste into high-value biogas and
biomethane as fuel for transport applications, and into a digestate which can
be used as a fertiliser or soil amender. The project team will assess the
economic viability and environmental benefits of the new process. LIFE STEAM
will be led by the Italian environment, water and energy company Hera SpA.
Environmental
governance & information (GIE)
Made green in Italy scheme
(LIFE MAGIS)
In 2018, Italy adopted in law the ‘Made Green in Italy’ scheme, the
first national initiative based on the EU Product Environmental Footprint
(PEF). Through the scheme, the environmental footprint of products can be
evaluated, providing guidance to consumers and helping companies reduce their
environmental impacts. The LIFE MAGIS project will be run by the Italian
technology and energy agency ENEA. Its team will target consumers and producers
to support the launch and spread of the PEF method and of the PEF-based ‘Made
Green in Italy’ scheme. They will also define category rules that will underpin
PEF studies on a number of product types: food products (snacks, ice cream,
fruit, cheese and coffee), leather products, window fittings and cosmetics.
A new approach to cut waste
and boost recycling (LIFE-REthinkWASTE)
The EU has a recycling target of 65% by 2035. Many areas across Europe
are still below this level, but some municipalities have reached separate
collection rates of 80-85% using innovative incentive schemes. ‘Pay as you
throw’ is one of the most effective ways to increase recycling. But uptake in
southern Europe is poor, with waste fees not reflecting the amounts generated.
This hampers better waste separation and recycling. LIFE-REthinkWASTE aims to
provide public authorities with ready-to-use decision support system software
to get ‘pay as you throw’ recycling up and running. The goal of the project,
led by the public utilities company ETRA, is to increase separate collection of
waste, reduce residual waste per capita and boost the recovery rate, whilst
simultaneously cutting the average household waste bill.
Wild pollinator conservation
in the Mediterranean (LIFE 4 POLLINATORS)
Wild pollinators have declined because of changes in land use, intensive
agriculture, pesticides, pollution, invasive alien species, diseases and
climate change. Research suggests almost one-tenth of the EU’s wild bees are
threatened with extinction, while data are lacking for over half. Information
is particularly scarce on the Mediterranean basin, which harbours the majority
of endemic wild bees and is considered a biodiversity hotspot. The knowledge
gap on wild pollinators and their role is one of the main obstacles to halting
this decline in the Mediterranean. Researchers from the University of Bologna
leading this LIFE project seek to improve pollinator conservation by raising
awareness about the problem and the importance of wild pollinators.
Cutting microplastic pollution
of lakes in Germany and Italy (LIFE BLUE LAKES)
High levels of microplastic pollution have been found in lakes, even in
remote locations. Microplastics get into the food chain and accumulate in
animal species, with negative consequences for human health. One source of
these particles entering the aquatic ecosystem is wastewater treatment plants.
The project team from Legambiente, Italy’s largest environmental organisation,
seeks to prevent and reduce microplastic waste in five lakes in Germany and
Italy, by combining governance, training, information and awareness-raising
activities. It will produce a support tool and suggestions on plastic waste
treatment, discharge limits, monitoring programmes and improvements to the
wastewater treatment process.
Climate
Change Adaptation (CCA)
Traditional dry-stone walls
regenerated as a climate change adaptation tool (STONEWALLSFORLIFE)
Drystone terraces are considered an important measure in the
Mediterranean region to counteract the effects of climate change on the local
economy and environment, and prevent soil loss. The STONEWALLSFORLIFE project
team will demonstrate the viability of drystone terraces as a climate change
adaptation measure in the Cinque Terre National Park in Italy. Park authorities
running the project will restore abandoned drystone terraces for use by local
farmers. Innovative techniques will be used to improve the performance of
drystone terraces in terms of drainage and landslide prevention. Additional
techniques will be trialled in Spain to also counteract wildfires.
Climate Change Mitigation
(CCM)
Data building for better
managed, more resilient mountain forests (GreenChainSAW4LIFE)
Rural mountain areas are critical for achieving climate mitigation
targets. However, unmanaged reforestation and land abandonment has reduced
their resilience. The GreenChainSAW4LIFE project, run by laser and plasma tech
company Iris S.r.l, will demonstrate a new participatory model of forest
management which meets energy and climate adaptation and mitigation objectives.
The project partners will bring together local rural forestry managers in
northern Italy and create an online decision-support system with data on forest
resources, a business model and a carbon flow calculator for different forest
management scenarios.
Greener refrigeration in the
ice-cream sector (LIFE ICEGREEN)
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are used in a variety of refrigeration
equipment, such as commercial ice cream machines. When released into the
atmosphere, HFCs have significant global warming potential and contribute to
almost 8% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Propane is an excellent and
economic substitute, with near-zero global warming potential. Nemox
International s.r.l, the ice cream machine producer leading the project, aims
to show that using propane as a refrigerant in innovative commercial ice cream
machines is technically feasible, safe and commercially viable. This is in line
with the EU’s F-gas regulation, under which HFCs must be phased out and
replaced with alternatives that have near-zero global warming potential.
Preventing soil degradation in
the Emilian Apennines (LIFE agriCOlture)
Many hilly and mountainous areas of central Italy suffer from soil
degradation due to intensification of agriculture on the most productive land
and the abandonment of land that has deteriorated. The loss of soil organic
carbon is an indicator of this problem. Under LIFE agriCOlture, the land
reclamation authority of Emilia Centrale plans to apply sustainable soil
management techniques and show their effectiveness in protecting soil organic
carbon in mountainous areas of the Emilian Apennines, a region prone to soil
degradation.
Climate Governance & Information (GIC)
Collaborative transformation
of urban green spaces in Mediterranean cities (LIFE CLIVUT)
Urban green spaces are a critical resource for cities to become more
climate resilient, supporting air quality, soil stability, biodiversity and
noise reduction. LIFE CLIVUT, run by the civil engineering department at the
University of Perugia, will develop an urban green asset strategy for four
medium-sized Mediterranean cities in Italy, Greece and Portugal, to help city
planners make the most of their urban green spaces. The project team will get
businesses and city residents involved in this strategy, encouraging businesses
to sign up to climate-responsible business practices. Its tree planting will
remove 230 tonnes of CO2 and 2 600 tonnes of particulate matter from the air
per year. The team will also help restore native plants and trees, and
eradicate invasive alien species which harm biodiversity in the cities.
Deepening international
cooperation on emissions trading (LIFE DICET)
There is a need for enhanced international cooperation to integrate
global carbon markets. The EU Emissions Trading System plays a world-leading
role in this area. The LIFE DICET project team from the European University
Institute aims to support policymakers at EU and Member State level in their efforts
to deepen international cooperation on developing and integrating carbon
markets. In particular, the project will help regulators and policymakers
acquire knowledge of how carbon markets function, and communicate and exchange
relevant information. The institute will establish an expert group, a carbon
market policy dialogue between the European Commission and other regulators,
and a knowledge-sharing platform.
Lista dei progetti LIFE con capofila organizzazioni italiane, presentati
nell’ambito del bando a finanziamento diretto LIFE scaduto a settembre 2016. Fonte
Commissione Europea, comunicato del 28/09/2017. Ne ho parlato in questo articolo.
ITALY (IT) (31 projects – 83.0
million)
LIFE Nature & Biodiversity
(5 projects – 19.3 million)
Boosting protected oak forests
in Italy and Hungary (LIFE 4 Oak Forests)
Centuries of commercial logging, unsuitable forest
management and overpopulation of wild game have resulted in an 'unfavourable'
conservation status for many types of valuable oak forests in the EU. This project
sets out to improve the conservation status of five protected oak forest
habitat types found in Italy and Hungary. Actions will include nature
conservation management of more than 2000 hectares of oak forests, fencing
other areas to stop damage caused by game and eradication of invasive tree
species.
Restoring coastal dunes of the
North Adriatic (LIFE REDUNE)
Coastal dunes have long been subject to unsustainable
exploitation and mismanagement, generally due to lack of awareness about
problems such as habitat loss, spread of invasive alien species and degradation
due to tourism and recreational activities. LIFE REDUNE's goal is to restore
and maintain the dune habitats of four Natura 2000 sites along the North
Adriatic coastline, along with their populations of Stipa veneta, an
endangered plant endemic to the dunes of north-east Italy.
Restocking threatened Egyptian
vulture populations in Italy and the Canaries
(LIFE EGYPTIAN VULTURE)
Close to extinction in Italy, only eight breeding
pairs of the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) remained in 2015.
These were found in the southern regions of Basilicata, Calabria and Sicily.
The vulture is also at risk in the Canary Islands, Spain, where it faces the
threat of poisoning, poaching and collisions with power lines. This project
aims to improve the conservation status of both populations by defining and
spreading best practices for captive-breeding and restocking programmes.
Restoring coastal lagoons in
Venice (LIFE LAGOON REFRESH)
Coastal lagoons are a priority for conservation under
the EU Habitats Directive. Many have have receded significantly in recent
decades as a result of human activities. This project will work to restore the
coastal lagoons of Venice's northern lagoon. In particular, it aims to conserve
them in order to exploit the ecosystem services they provide, such as
supporting numerous biological communities and stabilising tidal flats. The
project targets improvements in both lagoon bottom (benthic) and fish
communities, especially a rare fish species, the Canestrini's goby (Pomatoschistus
canestrinii).
Restoring ecologically
important brown algae (ROC-POP-LIFE)
Brown algae (Cystoseira) plays a key role in
marine conservation, supporting biodiversity and food cycles and sequestrating
a large amount of carbon dioxide. However, the impacts of tourism and other
human activities are causing this highly vulnerable reef habitat type to decline
in the Mediterranean. This project aims to trigger brown algae restoration in
two Natura 2000 network marine sites - Cinque Terre and Miramare. Restoration
work will involve experimental transplanting techniques, including taking young
cultured specimens from areas of more robust populations, saving time, money
and lowering the ecological impact.
LIFE Environment & Resource
Efficiency (18 projects – 45.5 million)
Reducing the impact of urban
freight transport (LIFE ASPIRE)
Urban freight has a disproportionately large impact on
air quality and congestion, accounting for 25% of total transport air pollution
and over 20% of congestion costs. Such issues are compounded in cities with a
medieval centre, such as Lucca in Tuscany. The city has already implemented a
'limited transport zone' for freight through an earlier LIFE project. This
project will introduce a 'credit-based' system for transport operators that
applies flexible road pricing and rewards cleaner vehicles with high credit
points. This is one of an integrated set of measures for improving energy
efficiency and urban air quality. Others include load/unload parking lots and
cargo-bike sharing. The project expects to reduce the number of last-mile
deliveries in the historic centre and cut emissions of CO2, NOX and
particulate matter by over 10%. It will assess the potential for replicating
the access control policy in Stockholm, Sweden, and Zadar, Croatia.
New software to implement
REACH chemicals legislation (LIFE VERMEER)
Software modelling can help assess the risk to health
and the environment of chemicals, and to identify potential substitutes for
harmful substances. LIFE VERMEER is developing two new tools that will have
broad application and will help implement the EU REACH Regulation. Both tools
will be validated within six case studies (food contact materials, biocides,
petroleum and oil fraction, greener solvents, dispersants, and cosmetics), so
that they can become part of a platform called VEGA (Virtual models for
property Evaluation of chemicals within a Global Architecture).
Making fertiliser and
additives from organic waste (LIFECAB)
The EU generates an estimated 76.5 to 102 million
tonnes of municipal bio-waste each year. This is mostly food and pruning waste
from gardens and green public areas. LIFECAB will demonstrate a new bio-waste
treatment cycle, involving biochemical and chemical processes within a
hydrolysis prototype facility with strong technology transfer potential.
Composted municipal bio-wastes will be hydrolysed to yield soluble bio-based
substances, for use as products (e.g. fertiliser) and as additives that improve
the anaerobic fermentation process, thereby increasing biogas productivity and
quality.
A tool to help companies
comply with environmental legislation (LIFE MATHER)
Potentially hazardous chemicals used in the home
appliances sector such as lead should be regulated, monitored and, when
possible, replaced with safer alternatives. This project will develop a new
chemical monitoring data tool for use by companies linking each chemical
substance they use to both the relevant regulatory framework and its known
harmful impacts. This will be demonstrated on around 15 to 20 products. The
tool will raise awareness of the health and environmental impacts of materials
and chemicals in product components, reduce the costs related to updating
in-house databases and inventories, and result in quicker and more effective
compliance with EU environmental and chemicals directives and regulations.
Improving recycling of
end-of-life vehicles (LIFE De-BAY)
When a vehicle reaches the end of its useful life,
what's next? According to EU legislation, at least 85% (by weight) should be
recycled. This project is seeking to lower the environmental impact of
so-called end-of-life vehicles by developing more efficient recovery systems
and techniques for small and medium-sized dismantlers. It will validate and
demonstrate its new technology at two pilot vehicle dismantling sites. This
will enable the recovery of larger amounts of materials and components, and up
to 99% of all vehicle fluids by weight. It will be faster, safer and more
efficient than current commercial systems.
Making Grana Padano processing
greener (LIFE TTGG)
Nearly a quarter of all milk produced in Italy is used
to make Grana Padano. With 183,000 tonnes produced in 2015, it is one of the
country's best-known and most widely consumed cheeses and has EU Protected
Designation of Origin status. But the environmental impact of the manufacturing
process could be lowered. This project will develop and test an environmental
decision-support system to improve the efficiency of the supply chain,
measuring performance against the Product Environmental Footprint metric.
French dairy organisation, CNIEL, a project partner, will subsequently transfer
the decision-support system to other EU Protected Designation of Origin
cheeses.
Saving materials and energy in
steel component manufacturing (LIFE 4GreenSteel)
The manufacture of high-density steel components for
the automotive industry has a considerable negative impact on the environment.
This could be alleviated with more efficient use of raw materials and energy.
LIFE 4GreenSteel will show that it is feasible to replace the traditional
energy-intensive machining process with innovative High Density Powder
Metallurgy technology. This should result in considerable energy and material
savings, and reduce by more than 70% the lubricant premixed with metal powder,
increasing energy efficiency and solving related emission problems.
Increasing the sustainability
of ceramic tile production (LIFE: Force of the Future)
Construction accounts for about 40% of the EU's total
energy consumption and contributes almost 36% of its greenhouse gas emissions.
To alleviate these significant environmental impacts, there has been a growing
move towards more sustainable processes. This project will demonstrate dynamic
monitoring of environmental, economic and social impacts at a ceramics company
and will use these to inform a 'new production systems' concept. An integrated
management tool will be used to identify the sustainable properties of
materials and processes. This will enable the project to develop prototypes of
more sustainable ceramic tiles, which will be produced on a small scale.
Testing integrated mobility
services in Tuscany (LIFE_SC)
Would you need to own a car if you could access
integrated mobility services? This project integrates the benefits of public
and private transport by developing a sustainable mobility programme for
Tuscany's Argentario Coast. Inhabitants and tourists will be able access
private or public transport services, depending on their needs and destination.
Users will be able to travel on all services, including ferries, using a single
ticketing system.
Implementing a circular
economy approach to aquaculture (REMEDIA Life)
The World Bank forecasts that aquaculture production
will triple by 2030. Fish farm waste is often discharged into the sea without
treatment. REMEDIA Life will mitigate associated environmental impacts by
replacing commonly-used mussels and macroalgae with stress-tolerant
bio-remediators, such as polychaetes and sponges. The 'integrated multi trophic
aquaculture' system should significantly improve a range of indicators of
seawater quality around a pilot mariculture farm. It will also enable
production of edible and inedible biomass that could have commercial
(biotechnological) applications. This sustainable aquaculture project is in
line with the European Blue Growth Strategy.
Tackling nitrogen pollution
from digital textile printing (LIFE DeNTreat)
Digital textile printing has been gaining popularity
among textile manufacturers. However, it is considered responsible for more
than a 200% increase of nitrogen in wastewater, resulting in higher treatment
costs. One solution could be to use decentralised wastewater pre-treatment
modules, based on the Anammox (ANaerobic AMMonium Oxidatation) microbial
process, as this project will demonstrate. These are capable of sustainably
reducing nitrogen pollutants linked to textile industry discharges, hence
decreasing the nitrogen content of urban wastewater.
Reducing the impact of tannery
effluents (LIFE GOAST)
Tannery effluents, if not properly treated, cause
significant damage to soil and water bodies. LIFE GOAST will demonstrate a new
tanning technology on a semi-industrial scale in Arzignano, Veneto. The
technology is expected to have fewer environmental impacts than the standard
chrome tanning process, while producing comparable or better quality leather.
In particular, the project will produce chrome-free, high-quality leather
articles, and improve the quality of tannery effluents by eliminating the use
of chromium salts and other harmful substances. The process is also expected to
reduce water consumption (by about 20%) and enable the recycling/reuse of 10%
of tanning agents.
Turning ordinary cars into
hybrid vehicles (LIFE SAVE)
The EU aims to achieve a 95 g CO2/km cap in emissions from transport by 2020 with
further restrictions to follow. To this end, this project is further developing
a prototype (called HySolarKit) for converting internal combustion engine cars
into hybrid electric vehicles, so that the technology is market-ready. Project
actions will include improving the integration of the system into cars through
upgraded power electronics, and demonstrating reductions in fuel consumption
and greenhouse gas emissions in retrofitted vehicles. It will also optimise
production costs to obtain a favourable payback time for consumers and define
commercial and licensing agreements.
Cutting the carbon footprint
of industrial wastewater treatment (LIFE LESSWATT)
The carbon footprint of wastewater treatment plants
can be significantly reduced by optimising treatment steps and lowering energy
requirements. This project is targeting improvements in the energy consumption
of industrial treatment plants and their direct greenhouse gas emissions. It
will develop and implement a new tool for assessing the contribution that the
aerated compartments of a treatment plant make to its overall carbon footprint.
The tool will be demonstrated in the wastewater treatment units of six
tanneries, located in Italy and the Netherlands.
Reducing health costs of
persistent contaminants in the water cycle (LIFE PHOENIX)
Persistent mobile organic contaminants are pollutants
found in the water cycle that are of growing concern to health professionals,
policy-makers and citizens. They degrade very slowly and can cause serious
health effects. The project will introduce a new system of governance for
managing the risks these contaminants pose. This inter-institutional system
will be supported by innovative forecasting tools based on ongoing monitoring.
LIFE PHOENIX will develop early warning tools and mitigation measures that are
expected to reduce public expenditure on dealing with the health impacts of
damage caused by persisent mobile organic contaminants.
Generating energy from waste
food (i-REXFO LIFE)
What if instead of going to waste, out of date food
could be used to generate energy? i-REXFO LIFE will demonstrate the
feasibility, sustainability and replicability of an innovative approach that
could prevent costly landfilling, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create
new uses for 'expired food'. The approach centres on development of a tool to
assess the bioenergy potential of locally-available waste food in terms of
business models, legislative frameworks and other factors. This will be used to
demonstrate sustainable 'reduction of expired food' strategies in the Umbria
region of Italy, with actions focused on promoting the use of
near-to-expiration food, such as distribution to charities, and raising
consumer awareness about food label information.
New tools for real-time
monitoring of radon in buildings (LIFE RESPIRE)
Radon is a short-lived radioactive gas from natural
sources that poses a health risk in buildings. Local authorities need better
tools for real-time monitoring of indoor radon in order to reduce those risks
and implement the EU Directive on human exposure to natural radiation. LIFE
RESPIRE will demonstrate a cost-effective solution in four areas of Italy and
Belgium, where it will be used to provide local authorities with real-time
radon maps and to help implement remediation actions. Mapping of 'radon prone
areas' will enable national action plans to be developed, as well as helping to
raise public awareness about radon.
Demonstrating a natural
approach to plant disease in vineyards (LIFE GREEN GRAPES)
Plant diseases in vineyards are a major headache for
wine producers. Control of those diseases is becoming more difficult as
pathogens acquire resistance to the most used active ingredients in commercial
fungicides. Stimulation of plants' natural metabolic resistance is a promising
way of overcoming this problem. LIFE GREEN GRAPES seeks to improve the
anti-parasitic response of vineyards through innovative natural products. It
will demonstrate the effectiveness of predictive crop protection models,
coupled with agronomic techniques and foliar interventions on vine plants,
based on the use of products to increase plant resistance and biocontrol
agents. This will also help reduce the amount of chemical fertilisers and pesticides
used, as well as improving the harvest and product quality.
LIFE Environmental Governance
& Information (4 projects – 6.0 million)
Involving distributors and
retailers in waste electronics collection (LIFE WEEE)
Recovery rates of waste electrical and electronic
equipment could be improved with greater consumer awareness and involvement of
equipment retailers and distributors in the collection process. LIFE WEEE will
trial a new governance model that follows this approach in Tuscany, Italy, and
Andalusia, Spain. This includes setting up new information exchanges and
equipment disposal sites and simplifying adminstrative procedures for
businesses involved in its collection and management. Making people aware of
the importance of separate collection of electrical and electronic waste is
essential both to eliminate behaviour that leads to severe environmental risks
and for the full implementation of the EU Directive on waste electrical and
electronic equipment.
Cycling through the Italian
Natura 2000 Network (LIFE Sic2Sic)
Many Natura 2000 network sites are seriously
threatened by degradation, severe fragmentation of habitats, the introduction
of invasive alien species and the overexploitation of resources and valuable
species. LIFE Sic2Sic will promote awareness and active public participation in
the protection of biodiversity. It seeks to increase people's awareness of the
Natura 2000 network and to encourage Italians to adopt more environmentally
sustainable behaviour, for instance by promoting bike lanes and sustainable
tourism. Other aims are to foster and stimulate processes of active citizenship
concerning environmental issues, and to promote the activation of 'territorial
governance' collaborative models.
Making festivals greener (LIFE
GreenFEST)
Green public procurement has been identified as one of
the main tools public administrations can use to drive the necessary changes to
current consumption and production patterns. By promoting green public
procurement among stakeholders, this project can make festivals and cutural
events greener across Italy. The idea is that cultural events, funded,
sponsored or organised by local authorities, would be subject to a number of
minimum environmental criteria, in line with the EU's goal of moving towards a
circular economy.
Monitoring and restoring
underwater meadows (LIFE SEPOSSO)
Protected underwater meadows of Neptune grass (Posidonia
oceanica) are under threat along the Italian coast and especially near
towns and cities. LIFE SEPOSSO will help address the loss and fragmentation of
these important habitats by creating an electronic information system to
measure and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of inspection and
surveillance works. It will also transplant Neptune grass to restore missing
sections of meadows and raise awareness of their importance among public
authorities and the general public.
LIFE Climate Change Adaptation
(3 projects – 9.3 million)
Adapting to desertification is
an opportunity for farmers (LIFE DESERT-ADAPT)
Climate change adaptation is not only a huge
challenge, it is also an opportunity to open up new income sources for farmers.
Desertification Adaptation Models tested by this project in vulnerable parts of
Italy, Spain and Portugal will combine methods such as inter-planting,
reforestation, water-saving technologies and soil protection to increase
resilience. As well as improved biodiversity, there will be a net carbon
removal of one tonne of carbon dioxide per hectare using the new models.
Another expected outcome is eight viable new sources of income (organic
products and ecosystem services) generating an extra 100 euros per hectare.
Sustainably managing alpine
pastureland (LIFE PASTORALP)
Better understanding the carbon sequestration
potential of pastureland in the Alps, and devising more sustainable ways to
manage it, could change the current ad hoc approach to pastureland
preservation. LIFE PASTORALP will work with graziers to develop and test
adaptation measures, build capacity and improve management strategies for
climate change adaptation in two national parks (one in Italy, one in France).
Defining environmental and socio-economic indicators for the status of
pastureland and consolidating results into guidelines will enable other alpine
regions to benefit from lessons learned.
Reducing flood risk in Veneto
(LIFE Veneto ADAPT)
A major flood in 2010 in north-east Italy highlighted
the increased risk of catastrophic flooding provoked by climate change. This
LIFE project will devise integrated approaches for flood management throughout
the Veneto region. Mapping of risks, vulnerabilities and resilience will
provide a baseline for comprehensive and sustainable adaptation measures. These
action plans will be aligned with urban planning policies to mitigate the
expected increase in major flood events in the coming decades. More than 1.7
million citizens will benefit from improved resilience to flooding.
LIFE Climate Change Mitigation
(1 project – 2.9 million)
Making climate-friendly
refrigerants commercially viable (LIFE-IREPRO)
Refrigerant gases containing hydrocarbons have a much
lower global warming potential than fluorinated gases currently used in
industrial refrigeration and air conditioning units. Uptake of these
alternatives is limited by technological barriers. By introducing a separation
column and changing the blending process during distillation of hydrocarbon
refrigerants, this project expects to reduce costs by 20%, making the
climate-friendly gases more commercially viable. Showing that it is possible to
cut greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and energy usage will support
the implementation of new standards and regulations on fluorinated gases.
