"The air quality in the capital city improved during the Eid al-Adha holiday and long weekend," Jakarta Environmental Office spokesperson Yogi Ikhwan remarked here on Thursday.
Based on the IQAir data on Thursday at 3 p.m. local time, Jakarta ranked 11th among the worst air polluted cities in the world.
Ikhwan attributed the better air quality in Jakarta to the low use of private vehicles during Eid al-Adha.
"We can maintain that ranking if we switch to using (means of) public transportation," he remarked.
Air quality in Jakarta recorded by IQAir on Thursday afternoon reached 90, with a PM2.5 concentration level at 30/9 μg/m³ (milligrams/cubic meter of air).
On Thursday (June 15, 2023), Jakarta occupied the third position as the city with the worst air quality in the world.
On Monday (June 19, 2023), the city had the worst air quality globally, according to IQAir.
Jakarta's air quality category, on Thursday afternoon, was in the yellow or moderate indicator, which means sensitive groups should reduce spending time outdoors.
According to IQAir's reference, an index score in the range of 0-50 means good air quality, while the band of 51-100 means moderate, and the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups in the 101-150 score group.
In the range of 151-200, the air is unhealthy; very unhealthy in the range of 201-300; and dangerous if it passes 301.
The Jakarta Provincial Government is striving to reduce air pollution by tackling the sources of pollution.
"Some policies to deal with worsening air quality include increasing (vehicle) emission tests, monitoring emissions from the industrial sector, and coordinating (with the traffic police) to tighten (implementation of) the odd-even policy," Head of the Jakarta Environmental Office Asep Kuswanto explained.
Related news: Jakarta applies 'push and pull' strategy to protect air quality
Related news: Jakarta's seven-pronged approach to controlling air quality
Related news: Environment minister should anticipate long dry season: President
Translator: Siti N, Kenzu
Editor: Sri Haryati
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
