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The equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS) in the latest version of CNRM climate model, CNRM‐CM6‐1, and in its high‐resolution counterpart, CNRM‐CM6‐1‐HR, is significantly larger than in the previous version (CNRM‐CM5.1). The traceability of this climate sensitivity change is investigated using coupled ocean‐atmosphere model climate change simulations. These simulations show that the increase in ECS is the result of changes in the atmospheric component. A particular attention is paid to the method used to decompose the equilibrium temperature response difference, by using a linearized decomposition of the individual radiative agents diagnosed by a radiative kernel technique. The climate sensitivity increase is primarily due to the cloud radiative responses, with a predominant contribution of the tropical longwave response (including both feedback and forcing adjustment) and a significant contribution of the extratropical and tropical shortwave feedback changes. A series of stand‐alone atmosphere experiments is carried out to quantify the contributions of each atmospheric development to this difference between CNRM‐CM5.1 and CNRM‐CM6‐1. The change of the convection scheme appears to play an important role in driving the cloud changes, with a large effect on the tropical longwave cloud feedback change. Plain Language Summary: The global equilibrium temperature change in response to a doubling of the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is an important characteristic of the climate system known as the equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS). Many climate models contributing to CMIP6 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6) have a larger ECS than their CMIP5 predecessors. Here, we investigate the origins of this increase for the CNRM model and its high‐resolution version. We find that it primarily results from changes in the atmospheric component, in particular in the convection scheme, through its impact on the cloud radiative responses. Key Points: The CNRM climate models contributing to Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 have a larger climate sensitivity than their CMIP5 predecessorThe climate sensitivity increase is the result of changes in the atmospheric component, through the dominant role of tropical cloud changesThe new convection scheme appears to play an important role in driving the cloud changes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the main characteristics of CNRM‐CM6‐1, the fully coupled atmosphere‐ocean general circulation model of sixth generation jointly developed by Centre National de Recherches Météorologiques (CNRM) and Cerfacs for the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 6 (CMIP6). The paper provides a description of each component of CNRM‐CM6‐1, including the coupling method and the new online output software. We emphasize where model's components have been updated with respect to the former model version, CNRM‐CM5.1. In particular, we highlight major improvements in the representation of atmospheric and land processes. A particular attention has also been devoted to mass and energy conservation in the simulated climate system to limit long‐term drifts. The climate simulated by CNRM‐CM6‐1 is then evaluated using CMIP6 historical and Diagnostic, Evaluation and Characterization of Klima (DECK) experiments in comparison with CMIP5 CNRM‐CM5.1 equivalent experiments. Overall, the mean surface biases are of similar magnitude but with different spatial patterns. Deep ocean biases are generally reduced, whereas sea ice is too thin in the Arctic. Although the simulated climate variability remains roughly consistent with CNRM‐CM5.1, its sensitivity to rising CO2 has increased: the equilibrium climate sensitivity is 4.9 K, which is now close to the upper bound of the range estimated from CMIP5 models. Key Points: Description of CNRM‐CM6‐1 model components, their coupling, and tuning procedures are describedHistorical simulations and DECK experiments are assessedPreindustrial simulation is stable and mean climate and variability in historical runs is realistic [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]