Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, has once again claimed the unsettling title of the world’s most polluted urban center. This disheartening revelation comes from data amassed by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, which has consistently ranked Jakarta among the top 10 most polluted cities globally since May.
With a population exceeding 10 million, Jakarta finds itself enshrouded in an alarming cloud of unhealthy air pollution on a near-daily basis, as affirmed by IQAir’s assessments. The situation has raised grave concerns, especially for residents like Rizky Putra, a 35-year-old father who fears for the well-being of his children due to the deteriorating air quality.
"The situation is very worrying,” Rizky Putra shared during an interview with Reuters TV, standing beside a bustling road in downtown Jakarta. "So many children are sick with the same complaints and symptoms such as coughs and cold,” he expressed, underscoring the widespread health implications of the pollution crisis.
Jakarta’s citizens have been grappling with toxic air pollution for an extended period, attributing it to chronic traffic congestion, industrial emissions, and coal-fired power plants. The public’s concerns escalated to legal action in 2021, leading to a civil lawsuit that succeeded in compelling the government to address the pressing issue of air pollution.
In response to the lawsuit, the court mandated President Joko Widodo to establish robust national air quality standards geared towards safeguarding human health. Additionally, it directed the health minister and Jakarta governor to devise effective strategies for curtailing air pollution.
However, despite these efforts, the pollution situation has continued to worsen, as noted by Nathan Roestandy, co-founder of the air quality app Nafas Indonesia. Roestandy emphasized the dire consequences of prolonged exposure to polluted air, including respiratory diseases, pulmonary ailments, and even potential impacts on cognitive development and mental health, particularly among children.
As Jakarta grapples with its severe pollution challenge, President Joko Widodo offered a unique solution on Tuesday. He proposed relocating the country’s capital city from Jakarta to Nusantara, an ambitious endeavor currently under construction on Borneo island. This significant move aims to mitigate the environmental strain on Jakarta and pave the way for a cleaner, healthier urban environment.
Indonesia is set to officially designate Nusantara as the new capital in the coming year, signaling a transformative chapter in the nation’s urban development. With plans for at least 16,000 civil servants, military personnel, and police to relocate, the transition to Nusantara holds the promise of a brighter, less polluted future for Indonesia’s citizens.
