Jakarta Battles Toxic Smog: Named Most Polluted City in the World with Alarming Air Quality Crisis
Jakarta, Indonesia's capital city, has been named the most polluted major city in the world. The severe air pollution poses significant health risks, leading the government to consider relocating the capital. However, concerns remain about the government's commitment to addressing the issue.
Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta has been named the most polluted major city in the world, according to air quality monitoring firm IQAir. The city has consistently topped the global charts for days, facing a severe spike in toxic smog.
Air pollution is a significant health risk, contributing to an estimated seven million premature deaths each year. The World Health Organization's recommended levels for tiny particles known as PM2.5 have been surpassed multiple times in Jakarta.
The megalopolis of Jakarta, home to around 30 million people, has surpassed other heavily polluted cities such as Riyadh, Doha, and Lahore for its concentration of PM2.5 particles. The dangerous levels of air pollution have been attributed to industrial smog, traffic congestion, and coal-powered plants.
Residents have expressed their concerns about the impact it has on their lives and health, with many reporting respiratory problems and sickness. President Joko Widodo has acknowledged the severity of the pollution levels and has plans to address the issue.
He intends to reduce Jakarta's burden by moving the country's capital to Nusantara on Borneo island next year. In addition, he emphasized the need to complete a planned metro train network to alleviate pollution. However, activists and citizens have filed a lawsuit against the government, accusing them of negligence in protecting residents. In 2021, a court ruled in favor of the lawsuit, ordering Widodo and other officials to tackle the city's air pollution problem.
Despite Indonesia's pledge to halt the construction of new coal-fired power plants and become carbon neutral by 2050, the government is expanding the Suralaya coal plant on Java island, one of the largest in Southeast Asia. Environmental organizations, including Greenpeace Indonesia, have voiced concerns about the expansion.
They note that 10 coal-fired power plants are currently operating within a 100-kilometer radius of Jakarta. As the pollution levels continue to worsen, residents are growing increasingly worried about the health risks, especially for children. Nathan Roestandy, the co-founder of air quality app Nafas Indonesia, highlights that breathing in polluted air on a daily basis can lead to respiratory and pulmonary diseases, as well as other health complications.
President Widodo's proposed solution to relocate the capital city to Nusantara aims to alleviate the pollution problem in Jakarta. The government is currently constructing the new capital, and plans to name Nusantara as the capital next year, with thousands of civil servants, military personnel, and police officers set to move there.
In light of ongoing concerns over Jakarta's air pollution crisis, it is crucial for the Indonesian government to take immediate and effective actions to combat this pressing issue and safeguard the health and well-being of its citizens.