The European Union has launched a call for proposals for the 2025 edition of the Program for Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) on Climate Change Mitigation.
This nearly $32 million (€28 million) program will allocate funds to different technologies, including carbon dioxide removal (CDR), as part of a broader agenda targeted towards reducing the Union’s net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% when compared to 1990 levels by 2030.
CDR projects eligible to apply for funding under this program include solutions based on biochar, enhanced rock weathering (ERW), ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), direct ocean capture (DOC), and small bioCCS.
By providing CDR funding through the LIFE program, the European Union aims to promote the testing of innovative technologies and processes, looking to identify cost- and resource-effective options.
The funding also intends to catalyze a growth in monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) capacities for carbon removal activities, supporting the development of viable business models.
Set to run in the period between 2021 and 2027, the EU LIFE program covers a number of sub-programs, including Nature and Biodiversity, Circular Economy and Quality of Life, Clean Energy Transition, and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.
It contributes towards the European Green Deal, which was introduced to fortify the EU as a resourceful, competitive economy with no net emissions of greenhouse gases in 2050.
Relevant: New Report Provides Recommendations On Scaling CDR In The EU
Besides looking to advance natural carbon sinks and tech-powered carbon removal solutions, the latest call for action grant proposals will also back a range of other climate-forward innovations.
These include technologies centered around energy efficiency that enable reduced energy use and lower emissions in industrial production and waste management, solutions that support the net-zero transition in road transport or offer decarbonization options for other transport sectors, and more.
The call was announced on Apr 24, 2025, and will be accepting proposals until September 23, 2025.
Read more: Remove Announces New Cohort Of CDR Startups For Its Europe Accelerator Program
