JAKARTA - The air quality of Jakarta on Thursday, August 13, was ranked the sixth worst in the world based on data from the air quality monitoring site IQAir at 06.00 WIB. The air quality index (AQI) of Jakarta was recorded at 156 or in the unhealthy category.
Dilansir Antara, with this condition, the public, especially vulnerable groups, are encouraged to reduce outdoor activities and use masks if they have to be outside.
The city with the worst air quality at the same time was Uganda with an AQI of 209. The next position was occupied by Kuching, Malaysia with an AQI of 176 and Lahore, Pakistan with an AQI of 173.
The condition of Jakarta's air quality is a concern for the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov). A number of strategies have been prepared to reduce air pollution, one of which is through reducing emissions from the transportation sector.
The DKI Provincial Government is expanding the reach of the Transjabodetabek bus service to encourage people to switch from private vehicles to public transportation. A number of routes that have been and will be developed include Blok M-Alam Sutera, Blok M-PIK 2, to the planned Blok M-Soekarno-Hatta Airport route.
DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung also invited the public to use public transportation services provided by the government. The DKI Provincial Government has even implemented free public transportation services for 15 groups of people.
Currently, Jakarta's transportation connectivity has reached 92 percent and places Jakarta in 17th place in the world and second in ASEAN after Singapore.
The transportation sector is a major concern because it accounts for about 50 percent of Jakarta's exhaust gas emissions. Therefore, Pramono targets the operation of 10,000 Transjakarta electric buses by 2030.
"If that can be done, it will significantly reduce its contribution to emissions," said Pramono when attending a Townhall Meeting discussing issues and solutions to air pollution at Melting Pop, M Bloc, Kebayoran Baru, Tuesday.
Apart from transportation, the DKI Provincial Government also highlighted the waste management sector which also contributes to emissions. The government is accelerating the construction of waste treatment facilities or Intermediate Treatment Facilities (ITF) in a number of locations, including Sunter, Rorotan, Bantargebang, and West Jakarta.
The facility is targeted to start operating gradually to help reduce emissions from the livestock sector.
Efforts to control emissions through public transportation and waste management are expected to improve Jakarta's air quality while reducing the level of pollution that is still a problem in urban areas.
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