Comité 21

Comité 21 (the French Committee for Environment and Sustainable Development) is a French association founded in 1995 that brings together public and private organizations to advance sustainable development and ecological transition. It describes itself as a unique network of organizations that want to have a positive impact on society, experimenting, innovating and cooperating to provide concrete answers to ecological challenges. Its mission is to increase the number, scope and impact of actions carried out in territories, relying on scientific expertise and fine knowledge of local realities to help public and private actors align their strategies, converge initiatives and build collective responses to ecological, social and economic challenges. Its approach rests on three complementary pillars: networking actors, sharing knowledge and incubating concrete projects. The organization is structured around a national establishment responsible for development, foresight, institutional relations and international actions, and five territorial establishments covering metropolitan France: Grand Ouest (Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Centre-Val de Loire), Grand Est, Grand Sud, Île-de-France and Sud-Ouest. This structure allows it to combine a national vision with local presence. Comité 21 has around 450 members, including associations, companies, local authorities and educational institutions. It offers expertise in climate adaptation, resource sobriety and protection of living systems, and provides support, training and project incubation. It publishes activity reports and organizes events and working groups. The association is headquartered in Paris and operates primarily in France, with some international actions. It is a private, non-profit entity, not listed on any stock exchange. Its current president is Antoine Pellion, and Bruno Paulmier is president of the national establishment.

Comité 21 was created in 1995 as the French Committee for Environment and Sustainable Development. Its founding purpose was to bring together diverse organizations—associations, companies, local authorities and educational institutions—to work collectively on implementing sustainable development in France, particularly by promoting the Agenda 21 framework ratified at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. In its early years, the organization focused on evaluating the impacts of sustainable development strategies on rural areas and seeking conditions for their optimization. Over nearly three decades, Comité 21 has grown into a network of around 450 members. It has expanded its scope from environmental concerns to a broader ecological, social and economic transition, with expertise in climate adaptation, resource sobriety and protection of living systems. The organization has also developed a territorial structure, with a national establishment and five regional establishments covering metropolitan France: Grand Ouest, Grand Est, Grand Sud, Île-de-France and Sud-Ouest. This allows it to combine national foresight and institutional relations with local support and cooperation. Comité 21 publishes activity reports, organizes events and working groups, and offers training and project incubation. It remains a non-profit association, headquartered in Paris, and continues to advocate for collective action on ecological challenges.

• 2025

  Comité 21 launches its new adaptation pathway 2026-2027.

• 1995

  Comité 21 founded as the French Committee for Environment and Sustainable Development.

• 1992

  Agenda 21 ratified at the Rio Earth Summit, providing a framework for Comité 21's mission.

A unique network and consultancy for sustainable development, bridging public and private actors across French territories.

• Climate adaptation support

  Helps organizations anticipate risks, protect populations and transform activities.

• Resource sobriety programs

  Supports transition to preserve water, energy and raw materials.

• Living systems protection

  Accompanies actors to preserve ecosystems and living conditions.

1. 1Accueil groupe - Comité 21comite21-groupe.org
2. 2À propos - Comité 21comite21-groupe.org
3. 3Comité 21 - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Comité 21 - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org