Jakarta's Air Pollution Crisis: A Deadly Cocktail of Coal, Traffic, and Waste Burning

Severe air pollution in Indonesia's capital potentially caused over 10,000 deaths in 2019, with economic losses estimated at more than $25.2 billion annually.

• Jakarta, Indonesia is suffering from severe air pollution, with the city regularly ranked as one of the most polluted in the world.
• Sources of the pollution include coal-fired power plants, vehicle and motorcycle exhaust, trash burning, and industries.
• Air pollution in Jakarta potentially contributed to over 10,000 deaths and 5,000 hospitalizations in 2019.
• The pollution is causing a rise in respiratory illnesses and deaths, and is also impacting the economy, potentially causing losses of around 40 trillion rupiah (more than $25.2 billion) a year.
• The Indonesian government is encouraging the use of public transportation and electric vehicles, and is considering tighter regulations for emissions from factories and industries.

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