The IPCC to celebrate 30 years on 13 March 2018 with a public opening (13 March 2018)

Image Diaporama - — © Photos: Judith Litvine/MEAE

To mark the 30th anniversary of its creation in 1988, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will hold its 47th session in Paris.

On 13 March, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs will take part in the session’s opening ceremony alongside the Minister for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, and the Minister for Higher Education, Research and Innovation. A few months after the One Planet Summit and the launch of the #MakeOurPlanetGreatAgain initiative with regard to the scientific community, organizing this event in France is highly symbolic.

In September 2017, France proposed hosting this 47th session during the IPCC plenary meeting. This meets one of the objectives set out in the Government’s Climate Plan, published on 6 July 2017, and demonstrates France’s constant commitment to climate issues.

UNESCO will host the meeting, which is a highly significant choice given the institution’s mandate in scientific and environmental issues, which echoes that of the IPCC to make science work for the fight against climate change.

One of the topics of this 47th meeting, to be held on 13-16 March, will be to provide the IPCC with long-term resources to maintain its essential work, as its financial situation is currently delicate. France is now taking action and will raise its contribution to €1 million per year until 2022. The next session in October 2018, focusing on adopting the report on limiting global warming to 1.5°C, must also be prepared.

This day of commemoration will be open to the public, which can attend the lectures and debates throughout the day on 13 March. Registration is mandatory, please e-mail the following address: pointfocalgiec at developpement-durable.gouv.fr

The role of the IPCC in climate negotiations

The IPCC reports are the scientific source of reference for informing the choices of political leaders, particularly for climate negotiations. They also help assess the international community’s efforts to fight climate change.

The IPCC in figures

30 years in existence
5 Assessment Reports
2,500 scientific experts and reviewers from over 130 countries were used for the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report
831 Chinese authors were chosen for the Fifth Assessment Report from over 3,000 candidates, including 35 French candidates
6 million euros for its annual budget, including €1 million per year from France from 2018
6 working languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. These are the six official languages of the United Nations.

Further information, consult our article or the website of the Ministry for the Ecology and Inclusive Transition (both in French).