"A while ago, the Supreme Court issued a final decision to the government to take concrete steps related to improving the air quality of Greater Jakarta," Nurofiq stated while reviewing the industrial area in Bekasi District, West Java, on Monday.
The minister noted that the MA ruling directs the Environment Ministry to guarantee air quality in Greater Jakarta through serious and measurable steps.
He emphasized that improving air quality is crucial, given its impact on the 34 million people living and working in the area. Exposure to poor air quality can increase the risk of diseases, including acute respiratory infections (ARI).
The ministry continues to address sources of pollution, including emissions from motor vehicles, which account for 42-57 percent of the pollutants during the dry season.
Nurofiq will communicate with related stakeholders, including state-owned energy company PT Pertamina, to accelerate the transition to the Euro-4 standard to reduce pollutants from fuel oil.
The minister is also conducting a review of industrial areas in Greater Jakarta, supervising around 6,800 chimneys from industries that still use coal to ensure they follow the rules related to their exhaust gas handling systems.
In addition, the ministry continues to encourage the conversion to gas in industrial areas to further reduce emissions from companies operating there.
Nurofiq warned that companies failing to comply with environmental regulations could face legal action.
"In the industrial zone, we have closed around 15 locations that seriously contributed to unhealthy air in Greater Jakarta. There are still around 14-16 locations remaining, and we aim to address them all—hopefully, this month, we will work intensively to close them and proceed with the legal process," he explained.
In 2021, the Central Jakarta District Court granted a citizen lawsuit regarding Jakarta's air quality. The lawsuit, initiated by Koalisi Ibu Kota, requested the fulfillment of the right to healthy air.
The lawsuit was directed at the president of the Republic of Indonesia, the environment and forestry minister, the health minister, the home affairs minister, the Jakarta governor, the West Java governor, and the Banten governor.
In response to the Central Jakarta District Court's decision, four of the seven defendants— the President, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Home Affairs—filed an appeal.
However, the MA upheld the decision in favor of the residents on November 21, 2023.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna Violleta, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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