Jakarta's air quality unhealthy this Sunday morning

Jakarta’s air quality was recorded as unhealthy, prompting advice for residents to avoid outdoor activities, according to the IQAir website on Sunday morning (5/7), with an update at 05.00 WIB. IQAir recorded Jakarta’s air quality at an index of 158, with PM 2.5 pollutant concentrations at 65.9 microgrammes per cubic metre, or 13.2 times higher than the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) annual air quality guideline value. PM 2.5 refers to particles smaller than 2.5 microns (micrometres) found in the air, including dust, smoke and soot. Long-term exposure to these particles is linked to premature death, particularly in people with chronic heart or lung disease. Current health recommendations related to air quality include avoiding outdoor activities, wearing a mask, closing windows to keep out dirty outside air, and turning on an air purifier. Jakarta’s air quality today was recorded as the third worst in Indonesia, after South Tangerang with an index of 183 and Pontianak (158). Meanwhile, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is encouraging Jakarta residents to take a real role in maintaining air quality through the collaborative #SatuLangkahDulu movement. This movement encourages all elements of society to start simple steps from their respective environments to realise cleaner and healthier air in Jakarta. Meanwhile, the Director of Applied Climate Services at the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Marjuki, said the challenge of controlling air pollution in Jakarta is increasingly complex due to the rate of urbanisation, massive city development, and the impact of global climate change combined with urban climate characteristics.