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. The 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). 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. The TGICA also convenes expert meetings on an as needed basis.

Since the 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-scale modeling of the impacts of climate change, to a large and diverse set of actors all across the world, including national, state/provincial, and local entities, business and industry, non-governmental organizations, and community groups, as well as through the UNFCCC Nairobi Work Programme on adaptation. The more diverse group of users has a far more diverse 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 modeling, impacts/adaptation/vulnerability, and integrated assessment modeling communities. These changes provide new challenges and opportunities for the TGICA.

During the process of preparing the Fifth Assessment Report, the TGICA and DDC will provide a one-stop repository for data from IPCC sources, quality controlled and carefully vetted, and operating within a mandate from the IPCC. In addition, it will provide pointers to other centers and groups for data beyond its current holdings but needed for impacts, adaptation, and mitigation assessments. Specifically the Task Group and DDC will continue to focus on: 

1. Archiving/distributing new data from scenarios on both long and intermediate-term projections as they come on line from the new scenario development process.

2. Pointing to high resolution observational data sets—with guidance on their use in observed impacts analyses.

3. Pointing to regional high-level resolution information beyond GCMs.

4. Providing and pointing to updated socio-economic information at scales needed for impacts, adaptation, and mitigation assessments.

5. Providing and pointing to other environmental information on sea level, storm surge, air pollution, and other issues.

6. Developing, providing, and pointing to resources such as technical guidelines and exemplar studies at different scales, showing how different assessments have been carried out.

7. Continuing to plan and hold expert meetings and workshops that advance the state of research and assessment, and that contribute to building an improved basis of information for future IPCC assessments.