Outcomes of the Meeting with the Estonian Ministry of Climate: The LIFE Programme

A meeting between the Estonian Ministry of Climate and the Ukrainian civil society sector took place — with the support of Ekoltava, the Ukrainian Climate Network, and Stronger Europe NGO.

Around fifty participants joined the discussion both offline and online.

We sincerely thank everyone for the meaningful dialogue on biodiversity protection and opportunities for cooperation and funding — particularly through the LIFE programme. This is truly a valuable opportunity for Ukrainian NGOs.

LIFE is a financial instrument of the European Union, created to support environmental, climate, and nature conservation initiatives in EU countries, as well as in countries with association agreements — including Ukraine.

The programme covers a wide range of projects: from the restoration of habitats for rare species and reducing industrial impact on the environment — to establishing green corridors for wildlife.
The average budget for a single project, typically lasting 3–5 years, ranges from 2 to 4 million euros.

Importantly, participation in the programme is open not only to civil society organizations but also to local authorities, research institutions, and businesses.

For Ukraine, LIFE represents an especially timely opportunity — particularly in the context of aligning with EU environmental standards. This includes joining the Natura 2000 network of protected areas, which is the EU counterpart to the Emerald Network.

Implementing the Natura 2000 initiative in Ukraine is a key priority for preserving our natural ecosystems. As part of the European space, Ukraine’s ecological networks must eventually be fully aligned with EU environmental standards.

We strongly believe this will happen — just as we believe in Ukraine’s approaching full membership in the European Union.

🙏 We are grateful to the Estonian Ministry of Climate and all our colleagues who took part in this meeting.