Background Mitigating the negative impacts of climate change is one of the most important challenges in the EU over the coming decades. In that sense, agriculture will play a key role, as farming emissions represent around 11% of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the EU28. Promoting farming systems that combat climate change is a powerful strategy to improve climate conditions, to preserve nature and to increase the competitiveness of the agricultural sector. Objectives The LIFE+ AgriClimateChange was implemented in order to demonstrate that agriculture can tackle climate change effectively and that actions by the farming sector are not a constraint, but in fact can represent an economic opportunity for farmers (in both the long, medium, and short terms). The AgriClimateChange project was developed simultaneously in four European countries (France, Germany, Italy and Spain) between September 2010 and December 2013. Its objective was to determine and support viable farming practices that better contribute to combating climate change. Results The AgriClimateChange project's results were numerous and: Provided effective tools that help to measure energy and GHG emissions balances/reductions at farm level; Identified agricultural support measures that contribute to fight climate change;/li> Confirmed opportunities for improving EU legislation and regulation in this field; and Have raised considerable awareness among influential stakeholders and decision-makers about effective and quantifiable climate action on Europe’s farms. Outcomes focused on the development and testing of a new assessment tool (called the AgriClimateChange Tool) which during three years was used to assess more than 149 farms, from four Member States covering more than 20 productive systems. Taking into account the results obtained in the assessments, the project experts elaborated Action Plans that were specifically designed for each farm, and reflected the results and the characteristics of the farm. These plans identified key elements in the farms’ management systems where scope existed for improving energy consumption and GHG emissions (and associated economic savings for the farms). Action plan content also included proposed measures that were agreed with the farm to improve energy consumption and GHG emissions (and associated economic savings for the farms). Results showed energy and GHG reductions of 10-40% could be reached by most farms through implementing the proposed measures. The measures were focused on agronomic techniques, livestock and manure management, fossil energy reduction and carbon storage. Such findings informed the drafting of Global Proposals concerning EU, national and regional measures, especially in the context of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Among them, 12 measures were selected as the more efficient to fight against climate change and to reduce energy consumption at farm level, taking into account not only their mitigation potential but also other aspects such as technical feasibility, implementation and monitoring cost, suitability to be included in the (2013) CAP reform, etc. Project partners met members of the European Commission (EC) and Parliament (EP) several times during the project in order to suggest policy measures in relation to climate change in agriculture. After the project, and during the reporting phase, the EC and the EP invited the project to present their results and policy proposals. An intensive programme of advocacy work was also carried out in the four countries addressing regional and national administrations. This experience is also being replicated by private and local initiatives in other countries of Europe. The project included a useful and varied collection of effective communication and awareness-raising activities in order to reach key stakeholders such as farmers, Farmer Unions, professional associations, consumers and experts also working on farming and climate change. As the farming sector is diverse, the communication campaign included several tools, such as a website, notice boards, press releases, radio and TV, specialised press, agricultural fairs and events for farmers. The project was explained to more than 650 farmers, more than 300 pieces of news related to the project (web, local and specialised press), were published, the website had nearly 71 000 different visitors (involving more than 600 000 visits in three years), the manual was downloaded more than 3300 times and the partners participated in more than 70 events to explain the project and its results. In October 2013, over 150 participants from a mix of European countries attended the project’s European Conference on Farming and Climate Change in Toulouse (France), where the main project results were successfully disseminated and supported by a broad spectrum of farming, environmental, and consumer/civil society bodies. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).