JAKARTA COMES IN SECOND PLACE AS THE CITY WITH THE WORST POLLUTION.

In 2018, Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, reported that the annual average concentration of PM2.5 was around 45.3 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m³), exceeding the target set by the government by more than three times (15 ug /m³). This amount is also four and a half times higher than the guideline set by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 10 ug/m³. PM2.5 refers to particles with a diameter of 2.5 microns or smaller.

2020 saw a drop in Jakarta’s pollution levels as a result of Covid, which also made WFH and PSBB employees necessary. The COVID-19 epidemic had a major impact on the quality of the air in many Indonesian cities, particularly the larger ones, and led to the implementation of Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) and the encouragement of workers to work from home (WFH) in several locations. The primary cause of this is a reduction in the number of motor vehicles operating on highways. But as of right now, the PSBB policy has become the “new normal,” where everyday tasks are completed in compliance with health regulations.

It is not possible to compare air quality data in a region between the months prior to and during the PSBB implementation in order to evaluate and explain the effects of the PSBB’s implementation and the shift to the new normal on ambient air quality. However, assessments of air quality between the same months in two different years—that is, 2019 and 2020—must be done (year on year).

PLTU industries and public transportation are two major sources of pollution in Jakarta. PLTU Suralaya 1, 2, 3, and 4  cease operations on August 29–31, 2023. In fact, PM2.5 concentrations in the Jakarta region rose over this period, going from 76 to 90.4 and eventually reaching 110.8. Prior to this, during August 19–28, PLTU Suralaya 1 was likewise disabled. In the Jakarta region, PM2.5 levels were still considered harmful or “yellow” throughout this time, with the highest level being recorded on August 27, 2023.Edwin Nugraha Putra, the principal director of PLN Indonesia Power, declared that PLTU Suralaya’s activities have fulfilled the government’s quality requirements. As a matter of fact, when they were initially discovered to be a source of pollution in

Edwin Nugraha Putra, the principal director of PLN Indonesia Power, declared that PLTU Suralaya’s activities have fulfilled the government’s quality requirements. As a matter of fact, when they were originally shown to be a contributing factor to Jakarta’s pollution, they lowered PLTU operations. They’ve tried to lower the emissions from their power plants. According to Edwin, PLTU Suralaya is outfitted with Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) to regulate NOx and SOx pollution as well as Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) technology, which filters combustion dust to sizes smaller than two micrometers.

The primary source of air pollution in Jakarta is cross-border pollution from the provinces of Banten and West Java, said the independent research institute CREA, which specializes in air pollution. The manufacturing and power-generating sectors of the industrial sector make up the largest portion of the contribution.As of right now, at least 16 coal-based steam power plants (PLTU) are in operation not far from Jakarta; 10 of them are situated in West Java, while the remaining two are in the Banten region.A 100-kilometer radius around the Jakarta metropolitan region has 418 facilities in the manufacturing sector as of 2019. Out of this total, 136 establishments are part of industries with heavy emissions, like coal power, steel, cement, and glass plants.

In contrast, 418 establishments in the manufacturing sector could be found within a 100-kilometer radius of the Jakarta metropolitan region as of 2019. Out of this total, 136 establishments are situated in high-emission industries, like petrochemical, plastic, metal, cement, steel, and glass factories, as well as oil and gas refineries and coal-fired power plants.

For a more thorough analysis, consider that 62 of these high-emission facilities are located in West Java, 56 in Banten, 1 in Central Java, and 1 in South Sumatra, and that 86% of them are located outside the formal borders of Jakarta. All of these locations are within a 100-kilometer radius of Jakarta.
The HYSPLIT computer model is also utilized by CREA to determine the distribution and travel route of pollutants. They discovered that winds from the northeast and southeast transported emissions from sources in South Sumatra, Banten, and West Java to Jakarta during the rainy season, which runs from November to May. In the meantime, winds from West Java carry emission sources to Jakarta’s eastern and southeast during the dry season, which runs from June to October.
The transportation, residential, and commercial sectors were also determined by CREA’s research to be the next sources.According to CREA’s research, home sources like burning waste are followed by the transportation, residential, and commercial sectors as the next major causes of pollution. Muhammad Aminullah, the chairman of the Walhi DKI Jakarta Campaign, claimed that despite the fact that the CREA research was completed three years ago, nothing has changed and that things have really gotten worse.

1. The solutions that can be applied to overcome the pollution problem in Jakarta are:
   Use public transportation.
   The use of public transportation really contributes in many ways, especially to reducing pollution, because one of the biggest contributors to pollution comes from vehicles. Apart from that, using public transportation has various benefits, namely reducing greenhouse gas emissions, having cheaper costs compared to private vehicles, and reducing congestion.
2. Reduce the use of private vehicles.
   The use of private vehicles, especially in Jakarta, causes traffic jams and has a negative impact on greenhouse gas emissions, causing excessive pollution. Traffic jams in Indonesia, especially Jakarta, are still a problem for which a solution is still being sought. The solution to reducing the use of private vehicles is to use public transportation, ride a bicycle, and walk.
3. Wear a mask when outside the house.
   Air pollution originating from vehicle emissions, factories, cigarettes, and other sources can cause problems with the respiratory system, such as asthma and chronic respiratory disease (ARI), and even increase the risk of lung cancer. Apart from that, air pollution can also result in a decrease in oxygen levels in the human body. The high level of air pollution in Jakarta can have a negative impact on the body, so it is necessary to wear a mask to avoid inhaling dirty air into the body.
4. Protect the surrounding environment.
   As Indonesians, we must continue to maintain the surrounding natural environment well because air pollution can cause negative impacts on both humans and the surrounding environment.
5. Do not carry out burning activities.
   Burning can increase the amount of air pollution, especially as many people burn rubbish, which can contribute to more air pollution. Therefore, throw away the trash or donate the trash to the final disposal site for further processing without having any other negative impact on the environment.

REFERENCES

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