Sakuranesia brings UI, UGM researchers to Japan AI Climate Forum

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Sakuranesia Foundation has strengthened climate diplomacy efforts by facilitating the participation of academics from the University of Indonesia (UI) and Gadjah Mada University (UGM) at the Weathernews Weather & Climate Forecast Conference (WCFC) 2026 in Tokyo, Japan.

The conference, which focused on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) for early warning systems and climate resilience in Asia, was organized by Weathernews International in collaboration with the BxBunka Foundation on June 17, 2026.

“The Indonesian delegation presented a number of studies on the impacts of climate change and the use of AI for disaster mitigation and the energy transition,” UI research team leader Prof. Jatna Supriatna said in a statement issued in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Prof. Jatna, together with Prof. Alhadi Bustamam, represented UI in presenting a study titled “The Impacts of Senyar Cyclones on Sumatra’s Landscape, Biodiversity, and Communities."

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The research examined the effects of Cyclone Senyar on Sumatra’s landscapes, biodiversity, and local communities.

According to the study, extreme weather events in late 2025 triggered severe flooding and landslides that threatened the habitat of the critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan.

In a separate session, Chairman of UI’s Laboratory for Sustainable Technology (LST) Eko Waludi highlighted the potential of AI to improve national energy efficiency, accelerate renewable energy development, and reduce carbon emissions in support of Indonesia’s net-zero emissions target.

Furthermore, the UGM delegation, led by Prof. Agus Maryono and Dr. Ganjar Alfian, introduced research utilizing machine learning and Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) to forecast climate change and assess hydrometeorological disaster risks in the Special Region of Yogyakarta.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reinforced the country’s delegation by presenting its international cooperation roadmap aimed at strengthening early warning systems across the Asia-Pacific region.

The participation of UI, UGM, and BMKG at WCFC 2026 was seen as a significant milestone in advancing Indonesia’s scientific diplomacy while creating opportunities for broader collaboration with research institutions, universities, and global technology companies in the development of AI-driven climate technologies and early warning systems.

Director General of the WxBunka Foundation Chihito Kusabiraki praised the quality of the research presented by the Indonesian delegation and expressed hope that the proposed initiatives could be translated into concrete programs.

Indonesia holds a strategic position in fostering regional collaboration in the fields of weather, climate, and disaster mitigation, Kusabiraki said.

Meanwhile, Sakuranesia Foundation Founder and Chairman Sakura Ijuin, together with Tovic Rustam, said WCFC 2026 marked an important step toward accelerating international collaboration in the application of artificial intelligence (AI) for weather and climate forecasting.

“WCFC 2026 is the second conference organized by Weathernews, and I see it as an extraordinary initiative,” Ijuin said.

Amid growing climate change challenges, Ijuin said artificial intelligence has become a key tool for improving weather forecasting accuracy, strengthening early warning systems, and supporting faster and more informed decision-making in disaster risk mitigation.

She also expressed hope that cooperation among Weathernews, Indonesian universities, BMKG, and the Sakuranesia Foundation would continue to expand through joint research programs, academic exchanges, youth training initiatives, and the development of AI-based innovations aimed at enhancing climate resilience across the Asia-Pacific region.

Through the support of the Sakuranesia Foundation, research findings and innovations developed by Indonesian academics are expected to make a tangible contribution toward building a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable future for coming generations.

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Translator: Riezko, Azis Kurmala

Editor: Rahmad Nasution

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