The specific programme on 'Cooperation' supports all types of research activities carried out by different research bodies in trans-national cooperation and aims to gain or consolidate leadership in key scientific and technology areas.

FP7 allocates EUR 32 413 million to the Cooperation programme. The budget will be devoted to supporting cooperation between universities, industry, research centres and public authorities throughout the EU and beyond.

The Cooperation programme is sub-divided into ten distinct themes. Each theme is operationally autonomous but aims to maintain coherence within the Cooperation Programme and allowing for joint activities cutting across different themes, through, for example, joint calls.

The main objective of environment research under FP7 is to advance our knowledge on the interactions between climate, biosphere, ecosystems and human activities and to develop new technologies, tools and services, for the sustainable development of the environment and its resources.

Environmental problems extend beyond national frontiers and require a coordinated approach at a pan-European and, often, global level. Europe needs to engage in a sustainable relationship with the environment while improving competitiveness and strengthening European industry. Sustainable management of the environment and its resources requires multidisciplinary and integrated research. The activities will also address policy needs such as the sustainability impact assessments of EU policies and the follow up to the Kyoto and post-Kyoto actions on climate change.

The "Environmnet" theme is built around four major activities:

Climate change, pollution and risks;

Sustainable Management of Resources;

Environmental Technologies;

Earth observation and assessment tools.

The FP7 budget earmarked a total of 1.8 billion for the Environment Theme over the duration of FP7.