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The Dangers of Urban Air Pollution and How to Tackle It

17 Sep 2025

Sumber: https://shorturl.at/HupLf 

Air pollution has long been a challenge for urban areas around the world, and its impact on city development is significant. In the modern era, we now have detailed scientific data on the effects of air pollution, and it’s clear that this issue remains a serious threat. The World Health Organization (2021) reports that 91% of the global population breathes air that fails to meet basic health standards. The situation is particularly dire in urban areas, where pollution levels often exceed the recommended limits by wide margins.

In Indonesia, air pollution has become an increasingly urgent issue. According to Greenpeace Indonesia (2021), major cities like Jakarta face dangerously high levels of air pollution that directly threaten public health. For residents in cities, the air is not only a concern for future generations but an immediate health crisis that affects people’s daily lives. With pollutants such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides (NOx) prevalent in the air, millions of Indonesians are exposed to the detrimental effects of air pollution.

The Health Crisis of Air Pollution and its Impact

As highlighted by the World Health Organization (2021), air pollution contributes to over 4.2 million premature deaths annually, causing diseases like heart disease, strokes, respiratory illnesses, and cancer. In urban centers, such as Jakarta, pollution levels often exceed the limits deemed safe for human health, exacerbating the crisis. For example, the particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration in Jakarta frequently exceeds safe thresholds, causing widespread respiratory problems among residents, especially children and the elderly. Greenpeace Indonesia (2021) reports that air pollution in major Indonesian cities is a leading cause of health problems, including a rise in cases of asthma, lung disease, and other chronic conditions. The country’s air quality is often far below World Health Organization (WHO) standards, with Jakarta residents potentially losing up to 1.4 years of life expectancy.

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that many citizens are unknowingly exposed to hazardous air quality. For Indonesians living in highly polluted areas, the effects of air pollution are a daily challenge. The crisis disproportionately affects the most vulnerable populations, including those living in low-income neighborhoods, where pollution levels are higher due to factors like proximity to factories and congested roadways.

The failure to regulate emissions from vehicles, industrial sources, and deforestation, combined with rapid urban growth, has made the situation even worse. It is crucial that Indonesia address air pollution through comprehensive strategies that prioritize both environmental sustainability and public health.

Strategies to Address Air Pollution

Several strategies can be adopted by the Indonesian government to address air pollution that affects public health. One important step is vehicle emission control, with concrete measures such as conducting regular emission tests for all vehicles to ensure standards are met, adopting stricter emission standards for new vehicles, and providing incentives for people who purchase clean-fuel or electric vehicles. Public transportation also plays a key role in reducing urban air pollution. By expanding fleets, improving public transport infrastructure, and integrating transportation systems, the number of emissions from private vehicles can be reduced. In addition, the government can encourage industries to shift toward renewable energy sources to lessen the severity of air pollution.

The public can also contribute to creating clean and safe air for all groups. In their daily urban mobility, people can switch from private vehicles to public transportation so that vehicle emissions are reduced. Besides shifting to public transport, practicing energy conservation, such as using electricity more efficiently, can also help reduce air pollution.

With cooperation between the government and local communities, air pollution can gradually be mitigated, while at the same time creating cities with clean and safe air for everyone.

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