Clean Air Catalyst – Understanding Jakarta’s Air

Nine out of 10 people globally breathe air with levels of pollutants that exceed World Health Organization (WHO) air pollution guidelines, according to WHO data (WHO updated those guidelines in September 2021, and the statistics may change with those updates). Low- and middle-income nations bear the brunt of the burden, with the greatest toll on populations living in the WHO’s Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions.

Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, has experienced rapid development. Its economy has doubled in size in the past decade and accounted for 16% of Indonesia’s economy in 2020. In 2020, the city’s population was estimated at 10 million with a population density of 14 people per km2 and a growth rate of approximately 0.92%, which has held steady in the past 10 years. Air pollution management is a major challenge faced by city authorities, with air pollution expected to worsen in the coming decades because of increasing economic activity and rapid urbanization.

The Clean Air Catalyst (Catalyst) is a five-year flagship program funded by USAID to accelerate clean air solutions in Jakarta. Our core strategies are building awareness of the sources of air pollution through collecting and analyzing air pollution data, identifying solutions that address the root causes of pollution, and building a strategic coalition to advance those solutions. The Catalyst takes an integrated approach with the goal of reducing air pollution while achieving health and climate benefits, as well as mitigating gender disparity due to the disproportionate impacts of pollution on women and vulnerable populations.

In this highlight note, the Catalyst wants to share what we know about air pollution in Jakarta, how it impacts health and the climate, and what we can do about it. Our goal is to reduce emissions while empowering women as Clean Air Catalysts. Will you join us?