14th meeting of SCO France

Published on 27/01/2026

Six years after the creation of SCO France, the 14th Inter-Organization Committee (IOC) meeting held on Thursday 22 January 2026 marks a milestone: hosted by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space (MESRE), this meeting is focused on reflection and the future.

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The CIO members present in Paris gathered at the MESRE, while the others connected via video conference. © SCO

Created in June 2019 at France's instigation, the SCO is now a leading player in climate action, largely thanks to the driving role played by SCO France. In a complex international geopolitical context where climate issues remain at the heart of the challenges, the members of SCO France came together with a specific goal in mind: to light the way forward. Symbolizing this pivotal moment, the IOC was held at the MESRE, one of the three ministries responsible for space in France (alongside the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of the Armed Forces).

Created in November 2019, SCO France is led by an Inter-Agency Committee (CIO) composed of 22 French public institutions whose missions relate to climate issues. Meeting twice a year, the IOC strives to support national public policies on climate change, and its members participate in the multidisciplinary review of French applications for the annual call for projects.

IOC proceedings

As at each of its meetings, the CIO reviewed the highlights of the past six months, with the following key points:

👉 Call for projects 2026: nearly 40 projects submitted by all SCOs, currently under review. Results in spring 2026!

👉 International news: six signatories to the SCO Charter since the July 2025 IOC meeting and focus on strengthening France-Africa relations. With six African agencies now members of the SCO and more than 20 SCO projects operational on the continent – mainly in the fields of agriculture, water management and coastal areas – lively discussions during workshops are opening up new avenues for action.

👉 Project review: in order to take a step back and assess the effectiveness of its actions, SCO France is implementing an annual review of projects completed between one and three years ago. The objectives are to validate the sustainability of the projects, document their long-term value, capitalize on feedback and maintain the partnership with the pilot teams.

Strategic workshop

Divided into three groups, participants discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the SCO, as well as opportunities and threats. Then they grappled with a challenging question: what would be the impact and consequences if the SCO were to cease to exist? Rest assured, the exercise consisted of confronting ourselves with a reductio ad absurdum reasoning in order to better identify our core strengths and avenues for development.

Appreciated by all, this collegial reflection yielded many fruits that nourish our conviction and motivation: in France, the SCO is the only real place where all public bodies related to climate and environment come together. At the global level, the SCO plays two fundamental roles: on the one hand, to maintain multilateralism, which is essential for a common response to the climate crisis, and on the other hand, to implement solutions that respond very concretely to the needs of the territories, as they are associated with each project. The analysis is ongoing, and you will see the results later this year!

► Spread across France, CIO members are used to meeting in a hybrid format! In the center are the people attending in person, featured in the opening photo. © SCO

A big thank you to all the participants. See you at the next IOC in mid-2026.