The General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) took a pivotal step towards global standardization when it officially defined the metre. This meeting, held in Paris, gathered representatives from several nations, including France, the United States, and various European nations. The key focus was the establishment of a definitive standard for length that would be universally accepted and utilized in scientific and commercial applications.

At this conference, delegates agreed upon using a platinum-iridium meter bar as the standard for the metre. This bar, precisely defined to be one ten-millionth of the distance from the North Pole to the Equator, was crafted to minimize changes due to temperature and other environmental factors. This decision was noteworthy as it replaced various local standards that had been in use, which often led to confusion and inconsistency across different regions. The prototype meter bar became the reference against which all subsequent measurements of length would be compared and is still preserved in the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in Sèvres, France.

The significance of this measure extends beyond mere practicality; it laid the groundwork for future scientific advancements and international collaboration on measurement standards. The consistency it provided across countries enabled trade, scientific experiments, and engineering projects to progress without the barriers posed by varying local lengths. In subsequent years, this initiative inspired the creation of further systems of measurement and led to the eventual establishment of the International System of Units (SI), which is still in use today.