Jakarta's air quality ranks sixth worst globally

Jakarta's air quality was ranked the sixth worst in the world on Thursday morning, according to data from the air quality monitoring site IQAir. At 6:00 AM Western Indonesian Time, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 156, placing it in the "unhealthy" category and prompting recommendations for residents to wear masks when outdoors.

The provincial government of DKI Jakarta has outlined three primary strategies to combat the worsening air pollution. These include expanding the reach of public transportation services like Transjabodetabek to reduce reliance on private vehicles, with new routes planned. Governor Anies Baswedan has encouraged residents to utilize the available public transport options, noting that the provincial government has already implemented free public transport for 15 categories of citizens.

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If that can be done, it will significantly reduce the contribution to those emissions.

Furthermore, the transportation sector, which contributes 50% of Jakarta's emissions, is a key focus. Governor Baswedan has set a target for 10,000 Transjakarta electric buses to be operational by 2030, a move expected to significantly decrease emission contributions. Waste management is also being addressed through the accelerated construction of Intermediate Treatment Facility (ITF) waste processing plants in various locations across Jakarta, with projects slated to begin mid-year.

These initiatives aim to improve the city's air quality, which has been a persistent issue. The government hopes that by enhancing public transport connectivity, which currently stands at 92% and ranks second in ASEAN after Singapore, and by improving waste management, Jakarta can mitigate its environmental challenges.

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If that can be done, then a significant contribution will reduce or lower the existing emissions in Jakarta.