"Around 47 percent of greenhouse gas emission in Jakarta is contributed by transportation and 40 percent by industry," Minister Gusti Muhammad said when visiting expo stands at the Indonesian Environment Week 2011 here Wednesday.
Based on the Indonesian environment index 2010 on the environmental condition in 2009, Jakarta was at the lowest rank because of its poor water and air quality and lack of green areas.
Among solutions offered to address the problems are a cut in the number of motor vehicles and development of mass transportation means.
"But it`s not easy and it must be carried out in stages," the environment minister said.
The Jakarta government plans to build more busway special lines and for that purpose, around 1,500 trees will be cut.
The environment minister said any development will have positive and negative impacts, but the negative impact should be minimized.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has annoucned that this year`s theme of the World Environment Day 2011 is
"Forests: Nature at Your Service", to celebrate the multitude of services - providing clean air, housing rich biodiversity, supplying water - performed by the world`s forests.
The World Environment Day 2011 will be hosted for the first time in India to highlight all about positive action for the environment.
Beyond supporting the natural habitat, forests sustain economic growth. In 2004 trade in forest products was estimated at $327 billion. Continued and uncontrolled deforestation therefore not only has devastating consequences for the environment, the wildlife and communities, but for economies around the world.
Rather shockingly, 36 million acres of natural forest are lost each year. World Environment Day (WED) chose this year?s theme, "Forests: Nature at Your Service", to encourage forest conservation and sustainable consumption for green growth, and in support of the UN International Year of Forests initiative. (*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
