Jakarta ranks second globally for worst air quality, eyes public transport and waste management solutions

Jakarta's air quality was ranked the second worst in the world on Wednesday morning, June 17, 2026, according to data from the air quality monitoring site IQAir. The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 175 at 5:00 AM WIB, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations reaching 88.5 micrograms per cubic meter, placing the air in the unhealthy category.

Residents are advised to avoid outdoor activities and wear masks if they must go outside. Lahore, Pakistan, registered the worst air quality globally with an AQI of 382, followed by Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (163), and Santiago, Chile (153).

The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is pursuing three main strategies to improve air quality. Firstly, it is expanding the reach of Transjabodetabek bus services to reduce private vehicle use, with new routes like Blok M–Alam Sutera and Blok M–PIK 2, and a planned Blok M–Soekarno-Hatta Airport route. Governor Anies Baswedan encourages residents to use public transport, noting that the provincial government offers free public transport for 15 categories of people.

Transportation connectivity in Jakarta has reached 92%, ranking 17th globally and second in ASEAN after Singapore. The transportation sector currently contributes 50% of Jakarta's exhaust emissions. Baswedan aims to have 10,000 electric Transjakarta buses operating by 2030, which he believes will significantly reduce emission contributions. Additionally, waste management is a focus, with accelerated development of Intermediate Treatment Facility (ITF) waste processing plants in Sunter, Rorotan, Bantargebang, and West Jakarta, expected to begin mid-year.