Arrr! The land o' dragons be th' filthiest in all th' Seven Seas! Asian haven, aye, be th' foulest in th' world!
2023-08-12
Arrr, ye scurvy dogs! IQAir, a Swiss air quality company, hath dubbad Indonesia's grand capital the most polluted land on Earth. Aye, this city be filled with over 10 million souls, breathin' in putrid air like a pack o' landlubber rats.
The city of Jakarta, Indonesia, has been ranked as the most polluted city in the world. According to Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, Jakarta has consistently been among the top 10 polluted cities since May. The city registers unhealthy air pollution levels almost every day. With a population of over 10 million people, the situation has become a major concern.In response to the issue, President Joko Widodo has suggested relocating the country's capital to Nusantara. The plan is set to be implemented next year, with thousands of civil servants, military, and police personnel being moved to the new capital. Jakarta residents have long complained about toxic air, and in 2021, some of them won a civil lawsuit demanding action to control air pollution.
The court ruled that President Widodo must establish national air quality standards and that the health minister and Jakarta governor must develop strategies to control air pollution. The dry season in Indonesia, when air pollution peaks, is currently underway. Motorized vehicles and industrial activity are significant contributors to the pollution, with transportation accounting for 44% and industry for 31% of air pollution.
Jakarta's health office has reported an increase in health problems caused by air pollution this year compared to 2022, and the situation is similar to what was observed in 2019 and 2018 before the COVID-19 pandemic. The severity of the pollution poses a serious risk to the population's health.