In May 2004, a concept paper/proposal was presented to the Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS) Partners for an IGOS Theme on Cryosphere.  The concept paper was prepared by the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) Project in collaboration with the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), and in consultation with several IGOS partners.  The proposal came from CliC and SCAR representing the two IGOS-P Partners WCRP and ICSU.  The IGOS Partners were asked to endorse the proposal and to approve the development of a full-fledged Cryosphere Theme document, which they did.

After workshops in Canada, Japan, and the Netherlands, the first full draft of the Theme Report was submitted for approval and presented at the IGOS Partners meeting in Paris on 30 May 2007 (IGOS-P-14). It was approved and accepted as a new IGOS theme.

At that meeting, the IGOS Partners agreed to have the Themes transition into the GEO framework. This had been discussed by the Partners and the GEO Secretariat for many months. IGOS and GEO/GEOSS have common goals, so it makes sense for GEO to draw on the work already done by the IGOS themes.

To better represent the needs those who use cryosphere data and products, the IGOS Cryosphere Theme core team decided to beging the development of a Cryosphere Community of Practice for GEO.