Jakarta air quality reaches unhealthy levels

Jakarta is experiencing unhealthy air quality, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching levels as high as 158. According to IQAir data, the city has recently ranked among the worst in the world for air pollution. Health officials, including Jakarta Health Office Head Ani Ruspitawati, have urged residents—particularly vulnerable groups such as infants, children, and the elderly—to wear masks and minimize outdoor activities to prevent Acute Respiratory Infections (ISPA) and exacerbate existing conditions like asthma.

In response to the pollution, the Jakarta Provincial Government is implementing several strategies. Governor Pramono Anung has highlighted efforts to expand the Transjabodetabek bus network to reduce private vehicle usage, including new routes connecting Blok M to Alam Sutera, PIK 2, and Soekarno-Hatta Airport. The administration also aims to operate 10,000 electric Transjakarta buses by 2030. Additionally, the regional legislative body (DPRD) is prioritizing new regulations regarding air pollution control for 2027.

On a regional level, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating through the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) to address forest and land fires that cause smoke to cross national borders.