Clean Air Catalyst Fact Sheet – Jakarta, Indonesia

As a result of the doubling of its economy over the past decade, Jakarta’s transportation and industrial sectors are growing rapidly, and so are its bad air days. According to the 2022 State of Global Air report, Jakarta is among the top ten most polluted cities in the world. Fine particulate matter has been found to be on average six times higher than safe limits set by the World Health Organization. A deeper understanding of what is driving the city’s air pollution and what to do about it is needed to deliver clean air for all of Jakarta’s residents.

About the Clean Air Catalyst

Clean Air Catalyst (Catalyst) is a global partnership supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development and led by World Resources Institute and Environmental Defense Fund, Inc. Launched in 2020, it is focused on building capacity for locally tailored solutions that curb air pollution, tackle climate change, and improve human health. Other Catalyst partner organizations are Columbia Climate School Clean Air Toolbox for Cities, Climate and Clean Air Coalition, Internews, MAP-AQ, Open AQ and Vital Strategies. The Catalyst has projects on the ground in Indore, India; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Nairobi, Kenya.

Project Activity Highlights in Jakarta

Science and solutions

• Strengthen Jakarta’s local government air quality monitoring networks by adding black carbon monitoring, in order to measure short-lived climate pollutants.
• Install continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations in three locations: West and East Jakarta, and the Pelindo Seaport Office Building
• Support the Environmental Agency of Jakarta in implementing an air quality data management platform and air monitoring plan across a wider section of city
• Undertake research on potential solutions in the transport sector, prioritize a short list of actions and build a solutions coalition around the most impactful interventions

Engagement

• Consult with more than 200 stakeholders, including public health, climate and civil society representatives, to evaluate and prioritize sources of air pollution in the city, and identify what other data and research is needed to get to solutions
• Organize multiple trainings and awareness raising events connecting public health, air quality and chronic disease with the Health Agency of DKI Jakarta, the Center for Indonesian Medical Students’ Activities (CIMSA) and other medical organizations and hospital staff
• Organize media training workshops for journalists, with field visits to communities most impacted by air pollution
• Conduct research, interviews and focus groups to understand where Jakarta residents get their air pollution information, and what they understand are the sources of pollution