Jakarta (Antara) – As the capital city of Jakarta celebrates its 495th anniversary, the University of Indonesia (UI) student executive body (BEM) reminded the public that the city still faces a serious health issue in the form of poor air quality caused by pollution.
"There are three main causes driving the capital city's air quality problem," said a member, Panji Raharjo in a statement on June 22.
He elaborated that it comprises the issue of traffic congestion, the dominant use of non-renewable energy, and unending waste management problems. They offered solutions to these problems as follows:
Traffic congestion
Solving this problem deeply rooted in the city's society can be handled by asserting the regulations that limit the use of vehicles that are powered by fossil fuel, improve the quality of public transportation services, and urge for electrification of transportation.
Excess use of non-renewable energy
Legislating support for the development of new and renewable energy under the Jakarta provincial government's regional general planning, which he said must involve the larger portion of society in terms of development and intensifying research and development that supports the new and renewable energy localized progress.
Waste management
The unending problem surrounding Jakarta's waste management can be solved by implementing the circular economy concept that can help reduce waste production and increase the even distribution of recycling from waste management units. The city is also urged to study the potential of using waste-powered electricity plants and better educate city residents in managing food waste.
Another BEM UI representative Amira Widya Damayanti said her organization is committed to overseeing Jakarta's pollution problem.
Jakarta's poor air quality has been the focal point in public discourse after scoring poorly on the IQAir website as it tops other major cities in the world.