Bicara Udara Launches Clean Air Policy Competition at UI: Encouraging Students to Tackle Pollution

The Yayasan Udara Anak Bangsa (Bicara Udara), together with Guidelight and supported by the Directorate of Student Affairs and Alumni of the University of Indonesia (UI), officially launched the ‘Clean Air Academy: From Wisdom to Impactful Action’. Held at the Student Activity Centre Auditorium (Pusgiwa) UI, this event marked the start of the Clean Air Policy Competition series. The competition is designed as a platform for students to formulate strategic policy recommendations for the government to address the air pollution crisis. The programme is expected to become a space for collaboration and advocacy to find real solutions for Indonesia’s increasingly concerning air quality conditions. The urgency of this activity is based on air quality data that is far from ideal. Referring to the Systemiq Indonesia study titled ‘Better Air, Better Indonesia’ (2023), pollution levels in the country have exceeded the safe thresholds set by both national and international authorities. Air pollution is not merely a respiratory problem. Research published in The Lancet Planetary Health revealed that long-term exposure to PM2.5 particles can impair thinking ability and memory. Furthermore, the latest data from 2025 shows a significant correlation with mental health, particularly among the productive age group (15-24 years). In her keynote speech, Rahmi, S.Hum., M.Sc., Ph.D., Operational Manager of UI GreenMetric, stressed that the campus is the best incubator for cultivating empathy and scientific thinking. ‘When students understand the impact of pollution based on data, they need to be encouraged to seek solutions in the form of ideas and policy proposals,’ she asserted. Echoing this sentiment, Fadhil Firdaus, City Advisor for Breathe Jakarta-C40, invited young people to be more proactive. According to him, contributions through research and innovation are crucial in influencing the public policy-making process. Through this roadshow at UI, the competition officially begins. Selected students will receive exclusive mentoring from experts, expand their professional networks, and have the opportunity to present their ideas at the Clean Air Forum.