Car Free Day helps cut emissions, improve air quality in Jakarta

Changing people’s travel habits is one of the key steps towards improving Jakarta's air quality​​​​​​​

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Jakarta Provincial Government has stated the implementation of Car Free Day (CFD) once in a week has proven effectively helping reduce vehicle emissions while lowering air pollution levels in the capital city.

Head of the Jakarta Environment Office Dudi Gardesi said here on Monday that Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) around Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout had declined, during CFD event on Sunday (June 7), from 86.15 µg/m³ at around 3 a.m. local time to 77.75 µg/m³ at 4 a.m.

The concentration of PM2.5 then dropped into 75.62 µg/m³ at 5 a.m., 68.93 µg/m³ at 6 a.m., 62.70 µg/m³ at 7 a.m., and reached around 60.30 µg/m³ between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on that day.

"The decline in concentration from the peak level to the CFD period reached around 27 µg/m³, or approximately 31 percent," Gardesi said.

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A similar pattern was observed at the mobile air quality monitoring station on Rasuna Said Street. PM2.5 concentrations fell from 76.10 µg/m³ at 3 a.m. to 71.10 µg/m³ at 4 a.m., then went into 61.4 µg/m³ at 5 a.m., before stabilising at around 54.9–55.5 µg/m³ between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.

According to Gardesi, the data indicate the PM2.5 concentrations decreased during CFD event, compared to peak levels recorded in the early morning. The reduction was likely influenced by lower vehicle traffic activity in the city center during the event, he added.

Therefore, the Jakarta Provincial Government continues to encourage the reduction of private vehicle use through various policies, including the implementation of CFD.

Gardesi also urged the Jakartans to start using public transportation, walking, or cycling in their daily activities, instead of using their private vehicles.

"Changing people’s travel habits is one of the key steps towards improving Jakarta's air quality," Gardesi said.

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Translator: Lia, Kenzu

Editor: Fransiska Ninditya

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