RTD (Research & Innovation) support
A number of Research & Innovation (RTD) programmes under FP7 (2007-13) and Horizon 2020 (2014-20) have supported projects relevant for biodiversity and education. Calls under the first two phases of the new Horizon Europe (2021-27) are ongoing, and have been listed in the HE Work programme for 2021-22 and the HE Work programme for 2023-24.

FP7 (2007-2013) programmes relevant for biodiversity and education:
Specific Programme "Capacities": Science in society (FP7-SIS; total funding € 330 million) included initiatives aimed at triggering the curiosity of young people for science, reinforcing science education at all levels, and mobilisation and mutual learning on societal challenges.

Specific Programme "Cooperation": Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities (FP7-SSH; total funding € 623 million) included projects on education networks with local schools (workshops, field visits and the design and evaluation of educational resources) as well as lifelong learning.

Specific Programme "Cooperation": Environment (including Climate Change) (FP7-Environment; total funding € 1.9 billion) included projects on communication of environmental research and activities among teachers, students and the general public.

Horizon 2020 (2014-2020) programmes relevant for biodiversity and education
Pillar I (EXCELLENT SCIENCE): Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (H2020-EU.1.3; total funding € 6.2 billion) and European Research Council (H2020-EU.1.1; total funding € 13.1 billion) supported projects relevant to biodiversity and education, for instance through the sub-programme Specific support and policy actions (H2020-EU.1.3.5) which included the European Researchers' Night, an annual Europe-wide public and media event for the promotion of research careers targeting the general public, addressing and attracting people regardless of the level of their scientific background, with a special focus on families, pupils and students. Under the topic Support for novel ways to highlight the work funded by the ERC and reach out to a wider public, the ERC supported ambitious communication actions to promote and raise awareness on projects it funded, to as wide an audience as possible, including scientists, students, media, policy-makers, the business community and the general public.

Pillar III (SOCIETAL CHALLENGES): Climate action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials (H2020-EU.3.5; total funding € 3.1 billion) supported projects relevant to biodiversity and education, especially under the topic Enabling citizens to act on climate change, for sustainable development and environmental protection through education, citizen science, observation initiatives, and civic engagement. This included the development and implementation of a multidisciplinary European competence framework within the context of lifelong learning for the development and assessment of knowledge, skills and attitudes of citizens and in particular young people on climate change and sustainable development – as well as the active participation of citizens through citizen science, environmental observation and civic consortia.

Pillar III (SOCIETAL CHALLENGES): Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy (H2020-EU.3.2; total funding € 3.9 billion) supported projects relevant to biodiversity and education. Projects under the topic Ocean literacy – Engaging with society – Social Innovation promoted proactive mutual learning by engaging with citizens as responsible actors of change in marine challenges, including dissemination and engagement with societal stakeholders and the public at large, via schools and science museums. The topic Building a future science and education system fit to deliver to practice aimed at improving the performance of science and education systems and their benefits for agricultural and forestry sectors.

Horizon Europe (2021-2027) ongoing calls/programmes relevant for biodiversity and education:
Horizon 2020's Pillar I (Excellent Science) continues under Horizon Europe in the form of grants for the European Research Council, the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, and for Research Infrastructures. Several research projects relevant for 'biodiversity and education' are included here. Of particular interest for this topic is the Commission's new flagship initiative (2022) Researchers at Schools, aimed at fostering direct interaction between researchers, teachers and pupils towards raising awareness on current research and its impact on society. The initiative is part of the European Year of Youth and is funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action MSCA & Citizens. The annual European Researchers’ Night event, described under Horizon 2020,  also continues under Horizon Europe.

Pillar II on Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness covers projects related to 'biodiversity and education' under several clusters.
The HE Work programme (2021-22) and HE Work Programme (2023-24) for Cluster 6, devoted to "Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment" cover several topics relevant for 'biodiversity and education.' Destination 1 "Biodiversity and ecosystem services" includes the topic Addressing biodiversity decline and promoting Nature-based Solutions in higher education, which aims to develop and disseminate concrete guidance on NBS in higher education. It targets vocational training, universities and technical schools for greater involvement with citizens and professional organisations, to mainstream biodiversity and NBS into their learning, teaching and capacity building programmes. Destination 6 "Resilient, inclusive, healthy and green rural, coastal and urban communities" includes the topic Inside and outside: educational innovation with nature-based solutions, which aims to set up a multidisciplinary, pan-European network of education professionals, researchers, public authorities, multipliers and civil society to integrate and help create awareness and mainstream NBS-related EU research and innovation into primary and secondary schools, vocational training and higher education centres. Destination 7 "Innovative governance, environmental observations and digital solutions in support of the Green Deal" covers the topic Education on the bioeconomy including bio-based sectors for young people in primary and secondary education in Europe, which aims to inspire young people to pursue education in life science, technology and bioeconomy-related areas by creating engaging educational programmes that encourage societal participation, based on five bioeconomy themes: outdoor learning, interconnectedness, forestry, food loop and life below water.

The HE Work programme (2021-22) and HE Work programme (2023-24) for Cluster 5 devoted to "Climate, Energy and Mobility" also cover relevant topics. Destination 1 "Climate sciences and responses for the transformation towards climate neutrality" includes a dedicated call on climate change and sustainability education under the topic Improving the evidence base regarding the impact of sustainability and climate change education and related learning outcomes. It aims at better understanding and measuring what learners actually learn and how this influences mind-set and actions on sustainability at the individual and collective level.

The HE Work programme (2021-22) and HE Work programme (2023-24) for Cluster 4 devoted to "Digital, Industry and Space" includes destination "A human-centred and ethical development of digital and industrial technologies" with topics such as eXtended Reality Learning - Engage and Interact (IA), which aims to develop and test the use of eXtended Reality technologies in education, such as for virtual field trips, content creation and exploration, awareness of climate change and biodiversity challenges, training of young professionals and upskilling, distance and blended learning, accessibility and inclusion.

Furthermore, other HE projects and initiatives are supported through five EU Missions, which are a novelty of the HE programme (2021-27). Many cover topics relevant for 'biodiversity and education,' as listed in the HE Work Programme (2021-22) and HE Work Programme (2023-24) for EU Missions.

In particular, the EU Mission: Restore our ocean and waters by 2030 includes topics such as Student and school activities for the promotion of education on ‘blue’ sustainability and the protection of marine and freshwater ecosystems, which aims to expand ocean and water literacy programmes for primary and secondary schools, as well as the Network of European Blue Schools, to encourage them to become agents for change and sustainability of the ocean, seas and waters. The mission also includes a grant for action on the topic Europeanisation of Plastic Pirates Citizen Science Initiative, which aims to raise awareness among European citizens and youth of the impact and benefits of research and innovation and increasing the capacity to collect, organise and verify data on plastic waste pollution stemming from and in European rivers, coastlines, and seas.

The EU Mission: A Soil Deal for Europe covers activities under topics such as Foster soil education across society, aimed at improving society’s understanding of soils, incentivising behavioural change by embedding soil-related subjects into various levels of education (schools, universities and professional), and linking enhanced information on soils with people’s values.

The EU Mission: Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities includes the topic Collaborative local governance models to accelerate the emblematic transformation of urban environment and contribute to the New European Bauhaus initiative and the objectives of the European Green Deal. Projects under this topic include the creation of actionable, climate-neutral futures across Europe by engaging many European universities and schools of arts and design in supporting their local cities, involving students in STEAM teams, internships and local capacity-building.

CINEA support
The European Climate Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) runs programmes that fund projects relevant to 'biodiversity and education'. These include the LIFE programme for environment and climate action, programmes in the maritime sector, and others.

The LIFE programme
In 2021 the Commission approved an investment package of more than €290 million for 132 new projects under the LIFE programme (2021-27), which will mobilise a total investment of €562 million. Putting Europe's biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030 is one of its main goals. It consists of four sub-programmes, one of which is devoted to Nature and Biodiversity. The Nature and Biodiversity sub-programme, and includes projects relevant for 'biodiversity and education'. It will fund 39 projects with a total budget of €249 million, of which the EU will pay €134 million. Earlier LIFE programmes also covered projects relevant to 'biodiversity and education', which can be searched in the LIFE public database.

European Solidarity Corps 
In 2017 the Commission launched a LIFE call for preparatory actions for the deployment of European Solidarity Corps volunteers to support the conservation of Natura 2000 sites. It enables young people (aged 18 to 30) to increase their awareness, assume ownership and responsibility over shared European natural heritage while helping to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and EU biodiversity objectives. The first call for the new European Solidarity Corps (2021-27) was launched in 2021. It aims to incorporate green practices in projects, and encourages environmentally sustainable and responsible behaviour among participants and participating organisations.

The Erasmus+ programme
"Environment and fight against climate change" is one of the main priorities of the Erasmus+ programme. The programme affirms that sustainability should become part of the entire spectrum of education and training, including curricula, professional development for educators as well as buildings, infrastructure and operations. Erasmus+ will be a key instrument for building knowledge, skills, and attitudes on climate change and sustainability within the EU and beyond. The programme will increase the number of mobility opportunities in green forward-looking domains which foster the development of competences, enhance career prospects and engage participants in areas strategic for sustainable growth, with special attention to rural development (sustainable farming, management of natural resources, soil protection, bio-agriculture). It supports innovative practices to make learners, staff and youth workers true actors of change (e.g. save resources, reduce energy use, waste and carbon footprint, opt for sustainable food and mobility choices, etc.). Priority will also be given to projects that – through education, training, youth and sport activities - enable behavioural changes for individual preferences, cultural values, awareness, and more generally support active engagement for sustainable development. For instance, the Erasmus+ programme includes the DiscoverEU Green route under its DiscoverEU action, designed to inspire young people to discover Europe in a sustainable way through learning experiences. It covers cities that are European Green Capitals and Green Leaf title winners, as well as Europe's best green parks and nature reserves.

InvestEU
The InvestEU programme enables MS to access funding for sustainable education infrastructure and the development of skills. For instance via its Framework Operation #13 for Skills, Education and Training, the European Investment Fund aims to support quality and inclusive education and lifelong learning, reinforce European higher education, and contribute to the green and digital transitions.

European Innovative Teaching Award
The European Innovative Teaching Award, launched in 2021, aims at valuing the work of teachers in the process of shaping the Europeans of tomorrow by making use of innovative, interactive, and inclusive teaching and learning practices. The thematic area chosen for the 2022 Award was linked to the New European Bauhaus initiative of the European Commission: “Learning together, promoting creativity and sustainability," whereby 50 outstanding projects focused on sustainability were selected for support.