For over 30 years, the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) has been assessing the state of scientific, technical and socio-economic knowledge on climate change, its causes, impacts and mitigation and adaptation strategies. Since its creation in 1988, it has produced 6 multivolume assessment reports providing a regular review of the most advanced knowledge. This scientific output is at the heart of international climate negotiations. It is also essential for alerting decision-makers and civil society. The IPCC is governed by its member states, via national focal points. In France, this function has been performed by the National Observatory on the Effects of Climate Change (ONERC), since 2001.
The IPCC's annual budget, to which member states can contribute on a voluntary basis, is around € 6 M. France has since 2017 contributed € 1 M per year, thus around 15% of its annual budget. This funding is provided by three ministries: the ministry for Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, the ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and the ministry of High Education and Research. Since 2016, France has also been funding the operation of the Working Group 1 Technical Support Unit.