Green Deal Funding Alert – April 2026

This is the latest edition of the Green Deal Funding Alert, a monthly newsletter that keeps you informed about funding opportunities and initiatives that support sustainable development and the transition to climate neutrality. This month’s edition highlights the launch of the LIFE 2026 Calls for Proposals, offering concrete opportunities for regions and cities to translate climate, energy, and environmental priorities into on-the-ground action.

1. LIFE Clean Energy Transition: €85.5M to accelerate local energy action

Are you a region or city looking to tackle energy poverty, develop local energy plans, or support affordable, clean energy solutions for citizens and businesses?

The LIFE Clean Energy Transition (CET) sub‑programme - the largest LIFE call for local and regional authorities in 2026 - offers €85.5 million across 13 Coordination and Support Action (CSA) topics. Many of these are designed to help public authorities overcome barriers and strengthen governance for the clean energy transition.

The most relevant CET topics for cities and regions are listed below:

Topic

• Supporting the delivery of actionable, integrated, and comprehensive local heating and cooling plans.
• Towards an effective implementation of key legislation in the field of sustainable energy
• Energy renovation solutions – Boosting building renovation through effective markets and instruments
• BUILD UP Skills - National Platforms on energy efficiency skills for the clean energy transition
• Supporting digitalisation of Distribution System Operators for a smart energy transition
• Crowding in private finance
• One-Stop-Shops - Integrated services for clean energy transition in private buildings
• Project Development Assistance for sustainable energy investments
• Scaling up smart and clean energy solutions for affordability in EU cities
• Alleviating household energy poverty in Europe
• Facilitating cooperation among energy communities

Deadline: 22 September 2026

Full call details are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal

2. LIFE Climate, Environment and Nature: what else is new?

Are you working on a local climate adaptation plan, a circular economy initiative, or a nature restoration project linked to your territorial competences? Beyond Clean Energy Transition, the LIFE Programme offers funding under three additional sub-programmes:

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation (CLIMA):

• Mitigation projects: 1–5 M€ per project

• Adaption projects: 1–5 M€ per project

• Climate governance and information: 0.7–2 M€ per project

Circular Economy and Quality of Life (ENV):

• Circular economy and zero pollution: 2–10 M€ per project

• Environmental governance and information: 0.7–2 M€ per project

Nature and Biodiversity (NAT):

• Nature and biodiversity protection: 2–13 M€ per project

• Nature governance and information: 1–2 M€ per project

Deadline: 22 September 2026

Explore all call on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal

3. Beyond Standard projects: Technical Instruments

The LIFE 2026 work programme also includes more technical instruments, such as Strategic Projects, Technical Assistance and Projects on Legislative and Policy Priorities. These are aimed at advanced project pipelines or very specific EU implementation needs. You can find more information about these additional instruments.

Any questions?

Please contact our Green Deal team at greendeal@cor.europa.eu. They will be happy to help.

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The Green Deal Going Local campaign secretariat