A programme launched in 1986 by the International Council of Scientific Unions to describe and understand the physical, chemical, and biological processes that regulate the Earth's system, as well as the changes occurring and how they are influenced by human actions. IGBP works on six projects centred on the oceans, land, and atmosphere. Scientists from more than 100 countries work on establishing the basis for assessing changes in the Earth's biogeochemical cycles, such as changes controlling the concentration of carbon dioxide and other chemicals in the atmosphere. National committees exist in 72 countries.

The IGBP began the IGBP Data and Information System (IGBP-DIS) to exchange satellite and other data, and to improve access to it. It also established a network of regional research centres under the name of the Global Change System for Analysis, Research, and Training (START) that will add regional perspectives on biogeography and climate.

After three decades of fostering international collaborative research and synthesis on global change, the IGBP came to a close at the end of 2015.