LIFE at Pollutec 2024: driving Europe's green transition

At the heart of Pollutec 2024 — billed as ‘the premier international trade show dedicated to environmental and climate solutions’ — was the LIFE-House stand, an innovative collaboration hub and networking centre showcasing the very best of LIFE projects. 

Decision-makers, innovators and business leaders from a range of public and private sectors met at the stand to ‘explore the intersection of policy, innovation and practical solutions’ through 17 LIFE projects covering climate change adaptation, building renovation, efficient energy management and the circular economy.

‘We implement 7 funding programmes with a total budget of 65 billion euros targeting the EU Green transition for the benefit of European communities, citizens and industry,’ CINEA Director Paloma Aba Garrote told a packed audience on the opening day. ‘But EU funding is perhaps a drop in the ocean compared to the needs of business. What we also need is jointly to mobilise private capital. EU funding can attract private investment in EU Member States. We have experience of projects which have attracted private finance solely because they are backed by EU funding.’

The LIFE-House stand welcomed representatives from government departments, local and regional authorities and the farming, agri-business, construction, retail and engineering industries from across the EU. ‘Close-to-market’ LIFE projects such as LIFE ALFIO, LIFE DIADEME and LIFE ICEGREEN underlined the importance of public-private partnerships to test and pilot new green technologies before scaling up in the market.

A special session dedicated to French stories highlighted LIFE SF6-FREE HV BREAKER — which aims to decarbonise the grid using climate-friendly green gas alternatives — and LIFE WASTE2BUILD developing a regional circular economy for the construction industry. Also on offer was free expert advice from Green Assist (the LIFE-funded Green Advisory Service for Sustainable Investments Support) on scaling up green investments for biodiversity, natural capital and circular economy initiatives.

A common theme running through all LIFE sessions was the importance of involving citizens, local authorities, the private sector and industry leaders if a project is to be successful. Sustainable financing, new business models, targeted interventions and bridging the gap between innovation, research, green technologies and implementation: Pollutec 2024 wasn’t just a showcase, but a call to action to work together. The conversations LIFE sparked in Paris will echo across Europe, driving new collaborations and innovations, as well as commitment from both public and private sectors to take decisive action towards a sustainable future.

Other LIFE projects featured at Pollutec 2024 included LIFE COOL & LOW NOISE ASPHALT; I-LOOP LIFE; Life-MaPerEn; LIFE IP ARTISAN; LIFE-SBE4LCHCB; LIFE ABAA 2021; RE-PLAN CITY LIFE; COOLING-CoolLIFE; SMARTSERV-BungEES; LIFE22-CET-FR-BS; LOCAL-OwnYourSECAP; POLICY-REDI4HEAT; HOMERENO-CONCERTO RENOV; ENERPOV-EP-0; and LIFE IP NADAPTA-CC. LIFE’s participation at Pollutec aligned with key EU policies, including the European Green Deal, the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, the Nature Restoration Law, the Energy Efficiency Directive, Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the European Climate Law. 

Debate Paloma Aba Garrote (CINEA) 5 years Green Deal implementation and LIFE-House stand and showcased projects videos are available on the LIFE Programme YouTube channel.