Jakarta’s Fight for Clean Air: Implementing Low Emission Zones and Policy Reforms

Jakarta is currently locked in a high-stakes battle against chronic air pollution that has, at times, reached record-breaking levels. From landmark court rulings to the introduction of strategic Low Emission Zones, the city is shifting toward data-driven policies to protect the health of its residents and reduce the dangerous concentration of particulate matter in the atmosphere.

The Scale of the Pollution Crisis

The air quality in Jakarta has reached critical thresholds, posing significant health risks. According to data from the Jakarta Environment Agency and the Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta, the city’s annual average PM2.5 concentrations stand at 39 μg/m³—a figure 7.8 times higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guideline of 5 μg/m³.

The situation worsens significantly during the dry season, which runs from May to September. During this period, daily PM2.5 concentrations can spike as high as 80 μg/m³. The severity of the crisis became globally apparent in 2023, when IQAir reports consistently ranked Jakarta among the top 10 most polluted cities worldwide, peaking as the world’s most polluted city on June 14 and August 9 of that year.

Identifying the Root Causes

Air pollution in Jakarta isn’t the result of a single factor but a combination of industrial and urban pressures. Whereas power plants and outdoor burning contribute to the problem, transportation is the leading source of emissions. With an estimated 25 million motorized vehicles—many of which enter from outside city boundaries—the impact is profound.

A 2019 source apportionment study revealed that during the dry season, up to 57% of PM2.5 emissions came from vehicles. Beyond the volume of traffic, research from the Harvard Kennedy School identifies Indonesia’s fuel quality as a crucial problem that requires reform to achieve a high return on investment for air quality policies.

Primary Emission Sources in Jakarta:

• Transportation: The dominant contributor to urban smog.
• Coal: Industrial power generation.
• Construction: Dust and machinery emissions.
• Resuspended Soil: Particulates kicked up from road surfaces.
• Open Burning: Localized waste and land burning.

Legal Mandates and Government Response

The push for cleaner air has been accelerated by legal action. In July 2019, a citizen lawsuit was filed against seven public officials, including the President of Indonesia, the Minister of Health, and the Governor of DKI Jakarta, alleging a failure to uphold the right to clean air. In September 2021, the central Jakarta district court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, legally requiring both national and local governments to capture corrective action.

In response to the record pollution levels of 2023, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo convened an ad hoc meeting to implement immediate relief. This resulted in the creation of a specialized task force and a mandate for state apparatus to work from home (WFH), a move the Minister of Law and Human Rights justified by citing health as a fundamental human right.

Strategic Solutions: Low Emission Zones (KRE)

To move beyond emergency measures, the Jakarta Provincial Government is implementing Low Emission Zones, known locally as Kawasan Rendah Emisi (KRE). These zones are designed to restrict high-polluting vehicles from specific areas to lower pollutant concentrations.

According to a 2025 Feasibility Assessment by Breathe Jakarta, the widespread and integrated implementation of KRE could reduce PM2.5 concentrations by up to 30%. The strategy involves collaboration with the University of Indonesia and international partners from C40 through the Breathe Cities programme.

The impact of these zones is most visible in Transit Oriented Development (TOD) areas. Fadhil Firdaus, the Breathe Jakarta City Advisor from C40, notes that implementing a KRE in a single TOD area can reduce PM2.5 levels within that specific zone by 8 to 11%, while contributing a 3% reduction across the entire Jakarta region.

Looking Forward

Asep Kuswanto, Head of the Jakarta Environmental Agency, emphasizes that controlling air pollution requires cross-sectoral and cross-regional collaboration. By combining data-based policies, such as the KRE, with fuel quality reforms and inclusive implementation, Jakarta aims to transition from emergency WFH mandates to a sustainable, breathable urban environment.