Exclusive Insight with Niklas Kaapke, coordinator of the project
Brussels — NCP Wallonie recently met with Niklas Kaapke, coordinator of the LIFE EFFECT project at Carbon Market Watch, to discuss how this EU-funded initiative supports the implementation of the European Green Deal.
The LIFE programme, created in 1992, is the EU’s main financial instrument dedicated to the environment and climate. With a budget of €5.4 billion for 2021–2027, LIFE supports projects that drive innovation in biodiversity, circular economy, climate action, and the transition to clean energy. LIFE EFFECT is one of its recent flagship projects.
Led by the Brussels-based NGO Carbon Market Watch, LIFE EFFECT aims to strengthen the knowledge and capacity of civil society organisations as the EU prepares to expand the Emissions Trading System (ETS). From 2027, ETS2 will cover emissions from buildings and road transport, sectors that account for nearly 40% of the EU’s annual CO₂ emissions. Alongside this, the Social Climate Fund will be launched in 2026 to support vulnerable households in coping with rising energy and transport costs.
Speaking to us, Niklas Kaapke explained: “ETS2 is about putting a price on emissions from buildings and road transport. Our role is to make sure this mechanism is implemented in a way that is fair for citizens and effective for the climate.”
LIFE EFFECT has set clear objectives: reaching one million EU citizens with awareness-raising activities on carbon pricing, and building the capacity of more than 500 stakeholders, including NGOs and community organisations, to engage with the ETS2 and the Social Climate Fund. To achieve this, the project communicates widely through social media, press outreach, targeted campaigns, and direct engagement with decision-makers.
For Carbon Market Watch and its partners, the challenge is not only technical but also social: ensuring that Europe’s transition towards climate neutrality is inclusive and leaves no one behind.
“Find a topic you are passionate about, keep a clear vision, and don’t be discouraged by bureaucracy. If you have an innovative idea that can make an impact, go for it,” was the message Niklas Kaapke shared with future LIFE applicants and young researchers.
With LIFE EFFECT, the project consortium contributes to fair and effective carbon pricing — a key condition for the long-term success of the Green Deal.
-Article written by Jennifer Lecluse
