Jakarta, Medan, and Batam have once again been listed among the world’s most polluted cities, according to the latest data from the IQAir Air Quality Index as of Wednesday morning (3/7). These Indonesian cities consistently rank high on global pollution charts, affecting both environmental quality and public health.
On the morning of July 3, IQAir’s air quality index recorded Jakarta as the third worst globally, with an AQI of 159, indicating unhealthy air conditions for outdoor activities. Medan and Batam also featured in the top 30, highlighting ongoing air quality challenges in Indonesia’s urban centers.
With an AQI of 159, Jakarta’s air quality is rated as unhealthy, posing significant risks to sensitive human and animal groups and potentially damaging vegetation and aesthetic values.
Medan and Batam, while better off than Jakarta, still recorded moderate pollution levels with AQIs of 84 and 72, respectively. These levels can affect sensitive plants and have a lesser, though still notable, impact on aesthetic values.
The situation in Jakarta is contrasted against cities like Kinshasa, Congo, and Kampala, Uganda, which have even higher pollution levels, showcasing a global issue with urban air quality.
The persistent poor air quality in these cities poses ongoing health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions.
Read More: Batam’s Air Quality Plummets to Unhealthy Levels
The repeated inclusion of these cities on the pollution list calls for enhanced governmental and policy measures to improve air quality and reduce the sources of pollution.
The air quality issues in Jakarta, Medan, and Batam may affect travel plans and raise concerns about outdoor activities in these areas. It also highlights the broader Southeast Asian challenges with urban pollution and the need for regional cooperation in environmental management.
Jakarta, Medan, and Batam have been highlighted as some of the most polluted cities globally, according to IQAir. With Jakarta ranking third worst for air quality, the ongoing pollution issues in these Indonesian cities continue to impact public health and necessitate urgent environmental policies and actions to improve air quality and ensure urban sustainability.
Source: Kata Data (2024)
