Jakarta, The Most Vulnerable City in the World to Environmental Risks
Jakarta was listed as the #1 vulnerable city of 516 others, currently facing territorial issues and reportedly being one of the fastest sinking cities in the world due to its increasing sea levels and dense city population. Moreover, frequent floods and heavy air pollution made Jakarta’s current environmental condition unhealthy for its 10 million residents.
Despite President Joko Widodo’s plans in 2019 to move the Indonesian capital from Jakarta to the island of Borneo, the project was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “We need to stop overwhelming Jakarta with overpopulation, traffic congestion and water and air pollution. We have to tackle these problems,” Jokowi said at a press conference at Merdeka Palace.
Furthermore, Indonesia, according to its commitment to the Paris Agreement, has promised to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 29 percent by 2030, but researchers are skeptical due to Indonesia’s growing use of fossil fuels. In March, the Environment and Forestry Ministry announced plans on setting a net-zero emissions target for 2070. It was however deemed too late, as climate change would devastate people’s livelihoods by then, especially those in vulnerable areas such as Jakarta.
Meanwhile, to curb air pollution, Rujak Center for Urban Studies executive director Elisa Sutanudjaja urged the Jakarta administration to tighten regulations on the city’s transportation industry. It is proven that motorized vehicles contribute the largest share, at 46 percent, to Jakarta’s air pollution. Programs to curb transportation pollution that have been implemented include expanding public transportation and implementing no-emission zones. However, if the current situation does not improve and remains unconcerned, it might risk the health of the citizens.
What Can We Do About It?
- Frequently take public transportation
- Utilize reusable products
- Implement no-emission zones
Resources
- https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/lifestyle/20210514095402-33-245460/jakarta-terburuk-kota-paling-bahaya-soal-lingkungan-di-dunia
- https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20210513093548-20-642100/jakarta-kota-paling-rentan-bahaya-lingkungan-di-dunia
- https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/14/asian-cities-face-the-biggest-environmental-risks-study.html
- https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2021/05/16/jakarta-ranked-worlds-most-environmentally-vulnerable-city.html
