Weathernews puts early action at centre of climate resilience discussion at TIF 2026

Weathernews Inc., a leading global weather intelligence firm, will be a key participant at the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) in 2026, held from September 5 to 13. The company will collaborate with Japan Tourism Industry (JTI) to host a session titled 'Understanding risk, acting earlier: Building resilience together' on September 6 at 10:30 AM.

This session will focus on translating improved climate and wildfire risk insights into earlier actions, aiming to enhance community, infrastructure, and economic resilience.

The discussion will highlight the importance of earlier risk identification and rapid communication, emphasizing the need for trust and timely decisions from relevant stakeholders, including local authorities, emergency services, and businesses. Dr. Teppei Yasunari, Weathernews Senior Scientist and Team Leader, will explore how climate variability and atmospheric circulation impact wildfire activity and air quality.

His research has linked large-scale atmospheric circulation with European heatwaves and boreal wildfires, as well as the effects of Siberian wildfire emissions on air quality, climate, and the economy.

The session, moderated by Maria Akrivou, will feature experts from Weathernews, the National Observatory of Athens, Neuropublic, and the JTI Foundation, discussing the value of science-based risk insights and the challenges in translating them into timely, coordinated actions. Ciro Borrelli, Head of Business Development at Weathernews, emphasized the global nature of extreme weather and the necessity of effective communication to ensure that insights reach the right decision-makers in a timely manner.

Alexander Arkhipov, Managing Director of the JTI Foundation, noted the 25th anniversary of the foundation and the importance of partnership in building trust and credibility in disaster relief and long-term risk reduction. Weathernews will also host a separate discussion on September 12 with Sakis Arnaoutoglou, Member of the European Parliament, focusing on strengthening Europe's preparedness for extreme weather through policy, public communication, and coordinated action.

Weathernews' participation at TIF underscores its commitment to knowledge exchange and long-term cooperation between Japan and Greece.