Hear from the Acting Governor of Jakarta, Heru Budi Hartono, ahead of the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies on 7 September
Jakarta is home to 10.5 million people and a key contributor to over 16% of Indonesia’s national economy. However, the city faces significant challenges as our rapid development and complex socio-economic issues have exacerbated air pollution.
Every day, our city is home to over 17.3 million motorcycles and 3.7 million passenger cars, all contributing to a serious issue: deteriorating air quality. This pollution not only diminishes our quality of life but also poses severe health risks, particularly to vulnerable groups, including minorities and those on lower incomes, who are disproportionately affected by poor air quality.
Clean air is a fundamental right, and it is our collective responsibility to safeguard this right for every resident of Jakarta. I am deeply committed to addressing the challenges posed by air pollution and mitigating its impact on public health and our economy. Raising awareness about air pollution is a key step to reducing exposure to air pollutants and their impacts on our health. Many remain unaware of the severity of this issue, which hinders our ability to drive meaningful change.
Addressing air pollution requires a comprehensive, collective effort. It demands active participation from residents, civil society, businesses, and government agencies. Only through strong collaboration and a unified approach can we make a meaningful impact. Since September 2022, Jakarta has made significant strides in tackling air pollution. We have introduced the Governor’s Decree on Air Pollution Control Strategy, which outlines a detailed plan with 16 programmes and 68 action plans aimed at enhancing pollution control and reducing emissions from mobile and stationary sources. Additionally, the Governor’s Decree on the Air Pollution Control Task Force has established a structured framework for managing these efforts.
Our achievements include expanding air quality monitoring with both reference stations and low-cost sensors to better understand our city’s air quality. We are addressing the most polluting activities, such as coal stockpiling and steel smelting industries that fail to meet environmental standards, through administrative penalties. We have also increased the number of emission testing locations and introduced new parking disincentives for the most polluting vehicles while promoting the use of electric vehicles. We currently have 100 electric buses and are targeting to add another 200 in 2024.
The Jakarta government implemented a micro-scale low-emission zone in Kota Tua in February 2021, and in Tebet Eco Park in 2022, which has achieved significant improvements in air quality within the zone. The success of the Kota Tua and Tebet Eco Park schemes will provide a basis for scaling up the scheme to other parts of the city.
All in all, in our pursuit of cleaner air, we signed our commitment through the C40 Clean Air Accelerator. This pledge underscores our determination to adopt innovative solutions and accelerate our progress toward achieving cleaner air. To achieve these goals, we are also collaborating with C40 Cities, along with Vital Strategies, Clean Air Fund, and Bloomberg Philanthropies under the Breathe Cities Jakarta Programme, as announced at the Local Climate Action Summit at COP28, to reduce emissions from transportation and industry, and implement integrated low-emission areas, known as “Kawasan Nol Emisi.”
We need to deepen our understanding of air pollution and safeguard Jakarta’s residents from exposure to polluted air. We must build a collective endeavour that requires more than just policy changes; it demands active community involvement and support. I urge every resident, organisation, and business to join us in this essential effort. Through effective policies, collaborative actions, and community-driven initiatives, we can work together to clean our air and create a healthier and more sustainable Jakarta for all.
Sincerely,
Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono