CNN Hong Kong -
Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, is the world's most polluted city, according to a new study, the country's president can provide evidence.
Ministers in the Southeast Asian nation confirmed this week that President Joko Widodo has been suffering from a cough for weeks, suggesting it may be linked to the region's worsening air pollution. In a city of 10 million people.
The news comes days after Swiss company IQAir published data showing Jakarta's air quality has deteriorated in recent weeks and is among the worst in the world.
"President Joko Widodo has called for concrete action (to combat air pollution) within a week," Indonesian Tourism and Economy Minister Sandiaga Ono told reporters after a parliamentary meeting between ministers in Jakarta on Monday.
One of them said doctors are investigating the cause of Widodon's cough, but it may be related to poor air quality, CNN affiliate CNN Indonesia reported.
The next day, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the president was suffering from a cough and said the ministry was testing the general population to see if there was an increase in lung and respiratory diseases such as asthma. Infected people. . province.
"We are monitoring the situation," Bodhi told reporters.
He added, "All reports related to the impact of air pollution on public health will be evaluated in coordination with relevant ministries and authorities."
Experts say the Greater Jakarta region has long suffered from air pollution, with factories, coal-fired power plants and congestion contributing to the smog.
In the year In 2019, a group of 32 residents filed a civil suit against Jokowi, also known as Widodo, and several members of his cabinet, alleging that they did not take steps to control air pollution and protect their right to clean air.
Two years later, they scored a historic victory when the Central District Court in Jakarta ruled. The prime minister said that the government has violated the country's environmental protection law, and asked senior officials to set national air quality standards and other measures.
But according to the data provided by the Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, the air quality in the capital has worsened in recent weeks, reaching the worst level in the world.
Jakarta topped the list of most polluted cities on August 9 after the company recorded "unhealthy" air pollution levels almost every day. As of May, it has consistently been among the top ten most polluted cities in the world, according to IQAir.
Widodo chaired a cabinet meeting on Monday to address worsening air pollution and called on the government to take urgent action.
The cause of pollution is "excessive road traffic, long seasons and energy sources mainly based on coal," said the minister, who suggested measures such as testing vehicle emissions and encouraging the public to work outside the home to address the problem.
He also said that the pollution tax is being discussed.
"The air quality in the Greater Jakarta area has been very bad for the past week," Widodo said. "There is a need for control over industry and power generation, as well as educating the public (to reduce emissions)," he added.
In a statement to reporters after the meeting, Tourism Minister Sandija Ono said the government is considering "concrete steps" to improve Jakarta's air quality in the long term.
"If we look at Beijing's success in this field, I am confident that we can work together with local governments and companies to improve the air quality in Jakarta, which will have a long-term impact on health," he said. About China's success in improving air quality in its capital.
Experts welcomed the government's stance.
"Air pollution is a serious problem in Southeast Asia," said Bridget Welch, a policy analyst at the University of Nottingham.
"Although improvements have been made to public transportation in Jakarta (areas), it should be strengthened, and laws should be better implemented to control the burning of (fossil fuel) and vehicle use," he said.
Although the government is considering moving the capital on the island of Borneo to Nusantara in East Kalimantan province, this decision will take years and will not solve the pollution problem, he said.
"Moving to a new capital will only temporarily solve the problem," Wells said. "The health costs of air pollution in Indonesia are severe and incalculable."
