The CMCC started its operations in 2005,[7] but the official opening was put off until the beginning of 2009 to coincide with the "Climate Science in the Mediterranean area" event, which took place in Lecce, on 31 January 2009.
On 10 December 2015 the Center became a Foundation therefore representing CMCC's legal status, its contents, aims and operational modalities.
In June 2018 a new partnership with Resources for the Future established the RFF-CMCC European Institute on Economics and the Environment (EIEE), based in Milan.
The CMCC is a foundation with its headquarters in Lecce and local units in Bologna, Venice, Caserta, Sassari, Viterbo and Milan, to exploit the existing expertise of its partners.
[9] In 2008–2009 CMCC supported the Italian G8 Presidency with scientific and technical advice, including organization and management of three workshops on climate change related issues.