Jakarta – Long criticised for its lack of action, the Indonesian government has moved to lower vehicle-emission levels in major cities.

With financial assistance from international donors and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the government is working on a national action plan. A working group has been formed to prepare an integrated strategy on the reduction of vehicle emissions. The group will recommend steps to cut emissions by next February.

Mr Ridwan M. Tamin, the head of the vehicle air pollution division at the National Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedal), said the programme would bring together government agencies and NGOs which were currently working on their own agendas. "A lack of coordination has been making the emission-reduction efforts ineffective," he said at a media briefing.

The working group, called the Multisectoral Action Plan Group, comprises government agencies such as Bapedal, the Jakarta city administration and the ministries of environment, energy and mineral resources and transportation. The project is sponsored by the Asian Development Bank. Several NGOs concerned with air pollution, such as Swisscontact and the Committee Against Leaded Fuel, have joined the group.

The government has begun a rigorous campaign to cut back on air pollution, especially vehicle emissions, in urban areas. As part of its efforts, it has begun phasing out leaded petrol after introducing unleaded petrol at city gas pumps in June.

It has also stipulated the use of natural gas by public transport. Jakarta is among the world's most polluted cities. The Jakarta office of Bapedal has recorded extremely high levels of lead pollution. In some areas, pollution has reached an average of 1.8 micrograms per cubic metre, higher than the standard of 1.0 microgram per cubic metre set by the agency. The high level of air pollution has raised concerns about its hazardous effects, especially on children.