The Task Group on Data and Scenario Support for Impact and Climate Analysis (TGICA) facilitates distribution and application of climate change related data and scenarios to enable research and sharing of information across the three IPCC Working Groups (Figure 1). The conduct of TGICA is governed by its mandate.
At its 47th Session on 13-16 March 2018, the IPCC adopted Decision IPCC-XLVII-9 whereupon TGICA will be renamed to the Task Group on Data Support for Climate Change Assessments (TG-Data). There are new Terms of Reference for TG-Data as well as Guidance for the Data Distribution Centre (DDC). This web site will be revised once the new Task Group has been established and the membership refreshed. Until that time, TGICA will proceed with its ongoing activities.
The IPCC Task Group on Data and Scenario Support for Impact and Climate Analysis (TGICA) was established in 1996. It comprises members with expertise and experience drawn from a cross section of research communities representing all three IPCC Working Groups.
Data Activities
TGICA oversees a Data Distribution Centre (DDC) which provides data sets, scenarios of climate change and other environmental and socio-economic conditions, and other materials (e.g. technical guidelines on the use of scenarios and fact sheets offering clarifying explanations/concise guidance on topical issues). The DDC also links to relevant data sets and information held outside the DDC, such as outputs produced from the new community-led process of scenario development to support climate change research. The DDC managers conduct regular surveys of users, with results from the most recent in 2015 reported here.
Capacity Building
TGICA also contributes to building capacity in the use of data and scenarios for climate-related research in developing and transition-economy regions and countries. It does this through the data and guidance provided via the DDC, by convening expert meetings on an as-needed basis, and by maintaining and updating a global list of networks for outreach.
User Communities
Since TGICA was established in 1996, a great deal has changed regarding needs and services for data and scenarios. Most significantly, the community of users has evolved from a relatively small group of researchers focusing on global- and regional-scale modelling of the impacts of climate change, to a large and diverse set of actors worldwide, including national, state/provincial, and local entities, business and industry, non-governmental organizations, and community groups. This more diverse group of users has a far more varied set of data and scenario needs, including data products more appropriate to settings with limited computational, communications, and research capacity. The process for preparation of scenarios has also changed, and has become a more open, interdisciplinary process with a larger number of interactions across the climate modelling, impacts/adaptation/vulnerability, and integrated assessment modelling communities. These changes provide new challenges and opportunities for TGICA.
TGICA Membership was refreshed in the summer of 2010 (see table below) with Timothy Carter (Finland) and Bruce Hewitson (South Africa) appointed in May 2011 to serve as Co-Chairs.
| Co-Chairs | Members | Ex Officio |
|---|---|---|
| Timothy Carter, Finland | Daniel Bouille, Argentina | Martin Juckes (DDC, BADC) |
| Bruce Hewitson, South Africa | Stewart J. Cohen, Canada | Martina Stockhause (DDC, DKRZ) |
| Suraje Dessai, UK | Robert Chen (DDC, CIESIN) | |
| Mariane Diop-Kane, Senegal | Wilfran Okia Moufouma (AR5, WG I TSU) |
|
| Seita Emori, Japan | Elvira Poloczanska (AR5, WG II TSU) |
|
| Gregory E. Insarov, Russia | Raphael Slade (AR5, WG III TSU) |
|
| Kejun Jiang, China | Karl Taylor (PCMDI) | |
| Volker Krey, Austria | Xianfu Lu (UNFCCC) | |
| Won-Tae Kwon, South Korea | ||
| Jason Lowe, UK | ||
| Francisco Meza, Chile | ||
| Andy Reisinger, New Zealand | ||
| Allison Thomson, USA | ||
| Rachel Warren, UK | ||
| Arthur Webb, Fiji | ||
| Fernanda Zermoglio, Sweden |
TGICA Reporting to IPCC
Considering the rapidly changing landscape of climate data and scenario information, the IPCC decided at its 41st Session to revisit the mandate of TGICA ahead of the upcoming Sixth Assessment. It invited government comments on a Vision document for TGICA and the DDC and arranged an Expert Meeting on TGICA (26-27 January 2016). At the 44th Session, the IPCC adopted Decision IPCC/XLIV-8 on the Future of TGICA, to establish an Ad Hoc Task Force to design a strategic plan and revised mandate and terms of reference for the transformation of TGICA functions to serve the needs of IPCC during and beyond the Sixth Assessment. It also requested TGICA to continue its activities until the revised mandate and terms of reference are approved by the Panel.
At its 47th Session on 13-16 March 2018, the IPCC adopted Decision IPCC-XLVII-9 whereupon TGICA will be renamed to the Task Group on Data Support for Climate Change Assessments (TG-Data).
Documents of relevance to the future of TGICA and the DDC include:
Decision IPCC-XLVII-9 Future of the Task Group on Data and Scenario Support for Impact and Climate Analysis
This document contains the text of the decision to establish a new Task Group on Data Support for Climate Change Assessments (TG-Data) and to adopt new Terms of Reference for TG-Data along with Guidance for the Data Distribution Centre (DDC).
Report By the Ad Hoc Task Force on the Future of the Task Group on Data and Scenario Support for Impact and Climate Analysis [IPCC-XLVII/Doc. 9]
[020320180441-Doc. 9.Add1-ATF-TGICA-interview batch]
[020320180441-Doc. 9.Add2-ATF-TGICA-focal points batch]
This report represents the final outcome of the work of ATF-TGICA. Priority objectives for a future TGICA and the IPCC Data Distribution Centre (DDC) were identified, and a new mandate and Terms of Reference (TOR) for the future TGICA and a revised guidance document for the DDC were developed. These can be found in Annexes. To inform its work, ATF-TGICA developed a questionnaire and the responses obtained were analysed (see also spreadsheet addenda).
Future of the Task Group on Data and Scenario Support for Impact and Climate Analysis (ATF-TGICA) [IPCC-XLVI/Doc. 9]
This is a progress report on the activities of the Ad Hoc Task Group on the Future of TGICA to the 46th Session.
Options for Discussion and Decision on the Future Role of TGICA [IPCC-XLIII/Doc. 10, Corr.1]
This document sets out some alternatives for decisions on the future of TGICA and the DDC, including revisiting the TGICA mandate, TGICA, membership, resourcing of TGICA and resourcing of the DDC. It also summarises priority objectives for TGICA and the DDC that are detailed in a separate document.
Priority objectives for TGICA and the Data Distribution Centre (DDC) [IPCC-XLIII/INF. 17]
This document presents a classification of activities currently or potentially undertaken by TGICA and the DDC. Activities have been prioritized both according to need as well as to resource requirements, based on expert input concerning the relative importance attached to different TGICA/DDC activities and taking account of whether activities are internal or external to IPCC.
Expert Meeting on the Future of the Task Group on Data And Scenario Support for Impacts and Climate Analysis (TGICA): Summary [IPCC-XLIII/Doc. 10, Corr.1]
This summary was prepared by the IPCC Secretariat and Co-Chairs and Steering Committee of the Expert Meeting and presented at the 51st Session of the Bureau (16-17 February 2016).
Expert Meeting on the Future of the Task Group on Data And Scenario Support for Impacts and Climate Analysis (TGICA) (Full Report)
This is the full report of the Expert Meeting prepared by the IPCC Secretariat with input invited from all participants.
TGICA Vision Paper (August 2015) [EXMOT/Doc4]
This document presents perspectives of the Task Group membership on the future of TGICA as the IPCC enters the next cycle, also incorporating feedback received at IPCC 41 and subsequent discussion at TGICA-22 in New York (June 2015). Three options are presented for the future of the TGICA and the Data Distribution Centre (DDC) it oversees: (1) Discontinue or severely curtail TGICA and discontinue the DDC; (2) maintain the status quo; or (3) strengthen TGICA and upgrade the DDC. Each of these options carries with it organisational and resource implications.
Governments and International Organizations comments on TGICA Vision Paper [IPCC-XLIII/INF. 18, IPCC-XLIII/INF. 18, Add. 1]
These documents are a compilation of comments on the TGICA Vision Paper by governments and international organizations received in advance of the IPCC Expert Meeting on TGICA.
Institutional Analysis of TGICA [link]
This document was prepared as an independent analysis of TGICA and the Data Distribution Centre in the context of a changing global environment of climate change related data and information. It was drafted by Catherine Vaughan of the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Columbia University ahead of the IPCC Expert Meeting on TGICA, with funding from the Finnish government. Using TGICA documents, related literature and interviews of key persons associated with TGICA in the past and present, the report takes stock of the main contributions of the Task Group and crystallizes some of the persistent challenges that have limited its efficacy. The report also reviews trends that have shaped the environment in which TGICA operates and considers opportunities for TGICA to contribute in a unique way within this new environment.
TGICA/TGCIA Meetings (1996-present)
List of all meetings (Updated May 2018)
* Webex teleconferences