Climate

Since the 1950s, the ISC —through its predecessor organization, the International Council for Science (ICSU) — has played a pioneering role in advancing Earth, space, and environmental science to enhance the understanding of the Earth system and its biophysical and human dimensions, as well as outer space. Joint science programs co-sponsored by the ISC and other international organizations, including those within the UN system, have led to major advances in both scientific research and the governance of global issues. A notable example is ICSU’s role in catalyzing international climate science efforts.

Until the mid-1950s, international scientific cooperation on climate was limited. The ICSU-led International Geophysical Year (IGY) in 1957–58 brought together scientists from over 60 countries for coordinated observations and saw the launch of Sputnik 1. This led to the creation of ICSU’s Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) in 1958.

IGY led directly to the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, promoting peaceful scientific collaboration. To promote Antarctic research, ICSU established the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) in 1958. Around the same time, ICSU founded the Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research (SCOR) to address global oceanic challenges. All these committees remain active today.

Following the success of IGY, the UN General Assembly invited ICSU to work alongside the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on atmospheric science research. This led to the 1979 World Climate Conference, where experts confirmed the long-term climate impact of rising CO₂ levels. ICSU, WMO, and UNEP then launched the World Climate Research Programme and, in 1985, organized a groundbreaking conference in Villach, Austria. Its findings laid the foundation for periodic climate assessments, ultimately leading to the creation of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988.