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March 19, 2025 | 11:15 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta is set to emulate major cities like Paris and Bangkok in its efforts to combat air pollution. Paris currently operates 400 air quality monitoring stations (SPKU), while Bangkok has approximately 1,000 units. By contrast, Jakarta has increased its SPKU count to 111, a significant jump from just five in the past.
To further improve monitoring precision, Jakarta plans to install 1,000 additional low-cost air quality sensors. This expansion aims to widen coverage and pinpoint pollution sources more accurately, including tracking how pollutants from surrounding areas enter the city.
Jakarta Environment Agency head Asep Kuswanto revealed the plan in a written statement following a discussion on air quality strategies for the dry season, held on Monday, March 17. The meeting involved representatives from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), academics, and civil society groups.
"Going forward, we will increase the number of sensors to enable faster and more precise interventions," Asep said. He emphasized that data transparency is a vital step and the foundation for science-based policymaking to systematically improve air quality. "We need to be more open in sharing air pollution data to ensure interventions are more effective," he added.
Puji Lestari, a professor of environmental engineering at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), pointed out that most of Jakarta’s air pollution stems from industrial activities across the Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek) metropolitan area. The industrial sector, including power plants, remains the primary contributor, followed by emissions from passenger vehicles.
"Jakarta's air quality is not only affected by internal factors but also by surrounding areas that contribute to its pollution," she explained.
Puji further highlighted that the interaction of various pollution sources makes Jakarta's air quality problem highly complex. She stressed the need for cross-regional coordination and more transparent, data-driven approaches to achieve meaningful, significant improvements.
Taryono Hadi, head of BMKG’s of Air Pollution Information Subdivision, pointed out the critical role of rainfall in reducing air pollution. During the dry season, typically spanning June to August, Jakarta’s air quality tends to worsen as pollutant levels in the atmosphere rise. "When rainfall is low, pollution particles are difficult to break down, leading to a sharp increase in PM2.5 concentrations," he said.
As for this year’s dry season, Taryono noted that it is expected to start later than usual, shifting from early April to late April. Additionally, the peak of the dry season is predicted to occur earlier, now expected to reach its highest intensity in September.
"We’re seeing a shift in the dry season pattern. While it typically starts earlier, this year it’s expected to begin later, with its peak moving to September," Taryono explained.
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