The World Climate Research Program (WCRP) coordinates research on pressing scientific questions related to the complex nature of the climate system that cannot be resolved at the scale of a single laboratory or country. By bringing together specialists working on the physics of the atmosphere, oceans, continental and ice-covered surfaces, and through international scientific coordination and partnerships, WCRP is contributing to advancing our understanding of multi-scale dynamic interactions between natural and social systems that affect climate, with a particular focus on the human-induced perturbations that affect societies. WCRP contributes to the development of policies and services, and to the promotion of science education. Most critically, WCRP-supported research builds the climate science that underpins the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, including national commitments under the Paris Agreement of 2015, and contributes to the knowledge that supports the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and multilateral environmental conventions.

Scientific guidance for WCRP is provided by the WCRP Joint Scientific Committee (JSC), which meets annually and consists of scientists selected by mutual agreement between the three sponsoring organizations, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Science Council (ISC), and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO).

This year the 46th session of the WCRP Joint Scientific Committee (JSC-46) met in Paris to assess progress made by WCRP activities towards WCRP’s goals and will advance the scientific program as documented in the Science and Implementation Plan., and to support the WCRP vision: A world that uses sound, relevant, and timely climate science to ensure a more resilient present and sustainable future for humankind.

The French scientific community well represented in the WCRP

The voices of 45 French scientists from various institutions (CNRS, Météo France, IFREMER, CEA, Universities, etc.) carry weight in WCRP discussions. During the “Science session with French scientists”, after an overview of WCRP scientific orientations given by Tim Naish (University of Victoria, New Zealand, WCRP Chair), and a presentation by Nicolas Arnaud (CNRS-INSU Director) on WCRP science in France from a CNRS-INSU perspective, the following topics were presented and discussed:

• Earth System Modelling and Observations in WCRP (Susann Tegtmeier, ESMO – Earth System Modelling and Observations)
• Transformative Advance in Climate Modeling for Climate Services – PEPR TRACCS (Masa Kageyama, LSCE-IPSL, member of the CLIVAR Steering Committee – Climate and Ocean Variability, Predictability and Change)
• WCRP strategic action and collaboration with IPCC on tipping points and high impact events: Gabi Hegerl (WhatIfMIP – What If Modeling Intercomparison Project)
• Towards a better understanding of high latitudes in the climate system: Camille Lique (IFREMER, member of the CliC – Climate and Cryosphere – Steering Committee)
• Why do clouds organise on the mesoscale? Does it matter for climate? Insights from recent field campaigns and satellite observations Sandrine Bony (LMD-IPSL, member of the GEWEX – Global Energy and Water Exchanges program)

Following these presentations, a discussion on the theme of “Research and Society in Southern Countries” took place between panel members

• Silvina Solomon (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina) for WCRP’s Regional Information for Society (RifS) program,
• Regina Rodrigues (Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil) for WCRP’s “My climate Risk Lighthouse” activity,
• Amadou Gaye (Université Cheikh-Anta-Diop de Dakar, Senegal) for WCRP’s Joint Scientific Committee (JSC)
• Juliette Mignot (IPSL-LOCEAN, France) for the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD),
• Megha Sud for the International Science Council (ISC).

and the 80 participants of JSC-46.

The exchange was appreciated by the participants and helped to strengthen certain collaborations. The event was sponsored by CNRS via the IPSL International Unit (IPSL ISU).