Jakarta's air quality ranks sixth-worst in the world

Jakarta, according to IQAir’s air quality monitoring site, on Tuesday morning at 08:00 WIB, ranked sixth-worst in the world. The city’s air quality index (AQI) stood at 137, with a PM2.5 concentration of 44 micrograms per cubic metre. The conditions render Jakarta’s air unhealthy for sensitive groups. The public was advised to avoid outdoor activities, or, if outdoors, to wear a mask.

Beyond Jakarta, the cities with the worst air quality on Tuesday morning were Lahore (Pakistan) at the top with an AQI of 300, followed by Dhaka (Bangladesh) at 178, and Kampala (Uganda) at 160.

Immediate measures to address air pollution include upgrading the air quality monitoring system and conducting vehicle emission tests. In addition, the DKI Jakarta provincial government has an Air Pollution Control Strategy (SPPU) which is being evaluated from various aspects, including PM2.5 trends, emissions by sector, and health impacts on the public. According to the DKI Jakarta administration, air pollution control cannot be undertaken by a single region in isolation, so integrated actions across regional government agencies and cross-regional collaboration around Jakarta are required.