Jakarta's Air Quality Remains Poor Despite Exodus of Residents Returning Home

Jakarta’s air quality has reached unhealthy levels this morning, Wednesday 18 March, with residents urged to wear masks when conducting activities outside their homes to reduce pollution exposure.

According to data from the IQAir air quality monitoring platform at 05.00 Western Indonesian Time, Jakarta’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 151. Meanwhile, PM2.5 pollutant concentrations were recorded at 56 microgrammes per cubic metre.

This figure far exceeds the annual air quality guideline value set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), being up to 21 times higher.

PM2.5 comprises fine particles smaller than 2.5 microns originating from dust, smoke and soot. These particles can enter the respiratory tract and risk triggering serious health complications.

Long-term exposure has even been associated with increased risk of premature mortality, particularly amongst those suffering from chronic heart and lung diseases.

In light of these conditions, residents are advised to limit outdoor activities. In addition to wearing masks, residents are also encouraged to close house windows to prevent entry of polluted air and to operate air purification equipment if available.

According to Antara news agency, in national comparisons, Jakarta’s air quality ranks fifth worst. The city with the worst air quality is South Tangerang with an index of 189, followed by Serpong (184), Bandung (170) and Bekasi (156).

The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is currently evaluating the Air Pollution Control Strategy (SPPU). The evaluation is being conducted comprehensively, encompassing PM2.5 trends, sources of emissions burden from various sectors, and its impact on public health.

The provincial government emphasises that air pollution control cannot be carried out partially by a single region. Such efforts require cross-sector collaboration and inter-regional cooperation in the Jakarta metropolitan area.

Deputy Head of the DKI Jakarta Environmental Affairs Office (DLH), Dudi Gardesi Asikin, stated that strengthening the SPPU based on data is key to reducing air pollution.

“By strengthening the strategy, data-based evaluation, and cross-regional collaboration, air pollution control efforts are expected to be more targeted and have real impact on public health and Jakarta’s environmental quality,” said Dudi.