1. Background
1.1 The Task Group on Scenarios for Climate and Impact Assessment (TGCIA) was established following a recommendation made at the IPCC Workshop on Regional Climate Change Projections for Impact Assessment (London, 24-26 September 1996), and further considered by the IPCC Bureau at its Eleventh Session (7-8 November 1996). A draft mandate statement for the Task Group was developed in a contact group at IPCC XX. At TGCIA VIII (Boulder, CO, USA, 30 June – 2 July 2003), the TGCIA discussed the mandate, suggested several changes, and proposed a change in the group's name to “Task Group on Data and Scenario Support for Climate and Impact Assessment”. At its XXXth session, the IPCC Bureau reviewed and further refined the mandate and recommended an additional change in the name of the group to “Task Group on Data and Scenario Support for Impacts and Climate Analysis” (TGICA).
2. Mandate
2.1 The mandate of the TGICA is to facilitate wide availability of climate change related data and scenarios to enable research and sharing of information across the three IPCC working groups. The TGICA disseminates information in support of IPCC work, as well as IPCC “approved”, “adopted,” “accepted,” and “supporting” material (as defined in Appendix A to the Principles Governing IPCC Work). This includes, for example, information on:
2.2 The TGICA does not develop emission, climate, or other types of scenarios for the IPCC, make decisions regarding the choice of such scenarios for use in IPCC assessments, nor undertake modeling or research.
2.3 The TGICA is accountable to the Panel through the Bureau and reports to Sessions of the Bureau and Panel.
3. Activities
3.1 The TGICA coordinates a Data Distribution Centre (DDC) which provides data sets, climate and other scenarios, and other materials (e.g., technical guidelines on use of scenarios).
3.2 The TGICA identifies information needs in support of IPCC work, facilitates research on climate impacts, adaptation, and mitigation, and makes related recommendations on cross-cutting issues. These activities will be carried out in consultation with the three Working Group Co-Chairs. The TGICA will also solicit feedback from user communities.
3.3 The TGICA contributes to building capacity in the use of data and scenarios for climate-related research in developing and transition-economy regions and countries. TGICA works with organizations and activities that have training as their core mandate but does not develop training programs on its own.
3.4 The TGICA may convene expert meetings on an as needed basis.
4. Membership
4.1 The task group will be co-chaired by two experts, one from a developing/ transition economy country and one from a developed country.
4.2 The TGICA will be composed of approximately 20 members known through their peer reviewed publications and works. Membership should include the following areas of research: climatology; climate modeling (both global and regional); physical, social, and economic impacts; adaptation; emissions modeling; and integrated assessment. The membership of the TGICA should reflect the need to aim for a range of views, expertise, and geographical representation (ensuring appropriate representation of experts from developing and developed countries and countries with economies in transition), with due consideration for the above-mentioned scientific and technical requirements. The term of membership on the TGICA will be linked to the assessment cycle of the IPCC and be refreshed near the start of a new comprehensive assessment.
4.3 Members will be selected through a process based on the lead author selection process of the IPCC. The Secretary of the IPCC will solicit nominations of experts from governments and organizations. The Co-Chairs of the TGICA and of the three Working Groups will develop a slate of approximately 20 members that will be selected by the IPCC Bureau, under general guidance and review provided by the Panel.
4.4 The TGICA may enlist other experts as contributors to assist with its work on an as needed basis.