Jakarta Air Pollution: Not all Doom, Gloom & Catastrophe!
Jakarta on a clean air pollution day
In 1994 there were an estimated 1.38 million vehicles (cars, motorcycles, lorries along with buses) in Jakarta; 27 years later in 2011 the total number of vehicles is actually estimated to have risen eight-fold to 11.3 million along with yet, believe in which or not, air pollution measured by any internationally recognised index (TSP – total suspended particulates, PM10 – particulate matter below 10 microns, sulphur dioxide –SO2, nitrogen dioxide – NO2, carbon monoxide – CO) is actually generally less than in which was in 1994. Given in which some 70 percent of urban air pollution is actually due to the emission of noxious gases along with minute particulates of toxic substances such as soot along with lead through the combustion of gasoline along with different hydrocarbon fuels in vehicles, how is actually in which possible when there are eight times the number of vehicles on the streets of the capital? What sleight of hand or outright fraud is actually being perpetrated here by a government in which is actually regarded by the international community as well as its own citizens as being somewhat economical with the truth?
Actually none since, a few lone voices apart, Indonesia’s press has generally latched onto the international fixation with Jakarta being one of the entire world’s most polluted cities in terms of air quality along with in some indices ranks inside top three, along with in which perception is actually rarely if ever challenged by the government.
Air pollution in Jakarta is actually bad along with causes untold suffering through respiratory disease to millions of residents with an estimated US$ 3.8 million per year increase in health care costs. In 2003 on average residents had only 18 ‘Great air’ days where air pollution parameters met national along with international standards. By 2010 in which had increased to 27 ‘Great’ or ‘clean’ air days despite the addition of a further 5 million vehicles to the city’s streets. The levels of PM10, which averaged 68.6?g/m3 in 2008 along with were reputed by the Jakarta Environmental Management Agency (BPLHD) to be down to 48.5 ?g/m3 in 2010, are way above the upper limit of 20?g/m3 recommended by the entire world Health Organization (WHO). The city incorporates a long way to go in cleaning up its air before in which can compete with Washington, Tokyo or Paris where PM10 levels are 18, 23 along with 38 ?g/m3 respectively, nevertheless its air is actually far cleaner than most industrial cities in China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Mongolia along with Mexico where PM10 levels generally exceed 250 ?g/m3 with the Iranian city of Ahvaz having an annual average PM10 of 372 ?g/m3 along with to suggest in which Jakarta is actually one of the most polluted cities on the planet is actually both wrong along with disingenuous when there are probably over 150 cities with worse air than Jakarta.
Pollution in Tehran
The reason in which Jakarta is actually managing to cope reasonably well with reducing air pollution, unlike its seemingly futile efforts to address road congestion, is actually because the government has implemented numerous significant reforms over the past 20 years in which have had the effect of curbing open burning of rubbish (a major contributor to air pollution in 1994), taken old smoky vehicles off the streets, began the process of de-leading petrol, implemented, albeit half-hearted, vehicle emission control along with enforced stricter industrial emission control laws. nevertheless these measures could not, on their own have accounted for the somewhat paradoxical improvement in air quality. By far the greatest contribution has come through the vehicle manufacturers themselves particularly the Japanese car along with motorcycle firms like Honda, Toyota, Suzuki along with Yamaha whose fuel-efficient engines , many with catalytic converters, must meet strict national along with international emissions standards. Although diesel buses along with trucks belching black smoke can still be seen on the roads of Jakarta they are a relatively rare sight compared with 10 or 15 years ago. The maintenance of the diesel engines of the commercial lorry along with bus fleets has improved upon dramatically over the past decade. All these factors have helped Jakarta improve its air quality nevertheless the city still incorporates a mountain to climb before its citizens can experience 365 clean air days a year.
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Jakarta Air Pollution: Not all Doom, Gloom & Catastrophe!
Jakarta Air Pollution: Not all Doom, Gloom & Catastrophe!