Clean Air Day: Jakarta Needs Stronger Regulations to Tackle Air Pollution
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A member of the Jakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), William A. Sarana, said that the capital city’s air pollution issue requires regulations and public policies that support achieving clean air to protect the public.
"We need to allocate five percent of the Jakarta Regional Budget (APBD) to address air pollution in Jakarta, as air quality needs to be a priority going forward. There needs to be acceleration in the 2027 Regional Regulation Formation Program," said William A. Sarana at the Talk on Air event held in honor of the International Day of Clean Air 2026 on Monday, September 7, as quoted by ANTARA.
He highlighted the need for a more responsive air pollution control policy, considering that DKI Jakarta Provincial Regulation Number 2 of 2005 concerning Air Pollution Control has been the foundation for Jakarta's air control for more than two decades.
This step is necessary considering that clean air remains a challenge for communities across Indonesia. In Jakarta, air pollution is a daily occurrence for urban residents, while forest fires in Kalimantan pose a risk of smoke exposure for residents in affected areas.
Conversely, the volcanic activity of Mount Anak Krakatau serves as a reminder that air quality can be impacted by various environmental factors.
Indah Khairunnisa, the Project Lead for the International Day of Clean Air 2026, stated that for urban communities, exposure to pollution is also part of their daily commute, especially for those who walk, cycle, or rely on public transportation.
Therefore, this year's series of activities focuses on healthy commuting, inviting participants to reflect on their mobility experiences in Jakarta and the importance of policy and infrastructure support for healthier journeys.
As urban conditions change and the need for healthy, low-emission mobility increases, updating air pollution control policies becomes increasingly relevant.
"Through International Day of Clean Air 2026, we want to bring the concerns and experiences of young people in everyday mobility into a broader conversation, including with policymakers, so that the need for healthy transportation that supports clean air becomes more apparent," he said.
