Jakarta – Greenpeace Indonesia says that around 93 percent of Jakarta residents are breathing dangerously polluted air with particulate matter content five times the safe limit set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), namely 5 micrograms per cubic metre.
The average annual concentration of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 in Jakarta is as high as 25 micrograms per cubic metre.
Greenpeace Energy and Climate Campaign head Bondan Andriyanu said that Jakarta residents who are members of vulnerable groups such as women, children, elderly people and disability sufferers are being forced to live with pollution levels above the safe limit.
"The findings of this report are shocking and worrying. Vulnerable social groups are living in dangerously polluted air without being aware of it because they do not have access to information on air quality", said Andriyanu in a press release received by CNN Indonesia on Wednesday September 7.
Andriyanu believes that the government must immediately implement the judges' ruling in the air pollution class action suit which was won by citizens one year ago.
"Where in the ruling the president of the Republic of Indonesia was ordered to improve ambient air quality standards so that they can protect sensitive groups", he said.
Andriyanu is also asking the government to immediately establish an air quality monitoring system throughout the country and ensure that the data is published directly or in real time.
In addition to this, the system must also be accompanied by a health warning when the air quality is poor, so that the public can take steps to protect themselves and their health.
No less important, said Andriyanu, the government must take firm action to put a stop to the sources of air pollution and ensure the fulfillment of citizen's rights to air which is clean and healthy.
"Moreover, the UN General Assembly has ratified the resolution that the right to a clean, safe and sustainable environment is a human right", said Andriyanu. (khr/fra)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Greenpeace: 93 Persen Warga Jakarta Tak Sadar Hirup Udara Berbahaya".]
