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NGO’s Questions Ministry of Environment and Forestry’s Air Pollution Data

Redaksi — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 08:43:23 +0000

Jakarta (Greeners) – After the types of air quality monitoring device, the Indonesian government and civil society are now debating about air pollution standards.

Based on the 1999 government regulation on air pollution, to analyze air pollution data based on National Standard, of which 0-65 microgram (µg)/m3 is categorized as moderate, 101-150 µg/m3 as unhealthy, 151-200 µg/m3 as very unhealthy, and above 200 µg/m3 as dangerous.

Meanwhile, standards used by civil society or NGO are based on the US standards, or US AQI, which applies 0-10 µg/m3 as good, 10-35 µg/m3 as moderate, 36-65 µg/m3 as unhealthy, 56-65 µg/m3 as unhealthy, 66-100 µg/m3 as very unhealthy and above 100 µg/m3 as dangerous.

Previously, Director general of pollution and damage control, Karliansyah, said that based on the 1999 government regulation, then the concentration for PM2.5 should be delivered by daily average or yearly average.

“To determine air quality, it should use daily average or yearly average. We cannot use temporary data or just that data. Based on our data, air quality is still good, but it does not good for babies and elderly,” said Karliansyah in Jakarta on Friday.

Based on the Ministry’s data, daily average of PM2.5 between 1 January to 30 June 2019 in Jakarta was in good condition or healthy as it is below National Ambience Air Standards, which are 31.49µg/Nm3 out of 65 µg/Nm3.

However, if compare with WHO standards, 25 µg/Nm3, then Jakarta’s air quality is considered moderate. Meanwhile, Ahmad Safrudin, director executive of Lead Gasoline Eradication Committee, said that the ministry insisted to state air quality in Indonesia, especially Jakarta, in good condition, because they refer to daily average of 65 microgram/m3 in accordance with PP 41/1999.Source : Lead Gasoline Eradication Committee.

Sumber : KPBB

The diagram compares on standards of air pollution. Diagram Number 1 is WHO standard, Diagram Number 2 is government’s yearly standards, and Diagram Number 3 is government’s daily standards.

“However, the latter, there’s potential of manipulation by making yearly average data through compiling daily average data which will result in lower numbers. What happens nowadays us that the standards are out-of-date (diagram 2 and 3). In addition, the government is using daily average (diagram 3) to analyze yearly average. Then, to make loose analysis for daily average so that 90-102µg/m3 are considered moderate, though they’re actually unhealthy,” he said on Monday (09/07/2019).

According to the Committee, air quality condition for PM2.5 in Jakarta in 2018 and 2019 using the old standards were also not healthy.

The yearly average standard in 2018 was 45,62 µg/m3 and 2019 was 37,8 µg/m3. Meanwhile, yearly average standards based on the regulation for PM2.5 is 15 µg/m3.

He said that DKI Jakarta’s monitoring result for the past two months, daily average of PM2.5 is between 94,22 – 112,86 µg/m3. Hence, it is a huge mistake if the analysis results of Jakarta turned out to be good. “So, using the existing standard, air quality of Jakarta is unhealthy,” he said.

Reports by Dewi Purningsih

Going on 17 Years, Car Free Day in Indonesia Far From Success to Reduce Air Pollution, Activists Slam.

Redaksi — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 03:11:18 +0000

Jakarta (Greeners) – Despite of being 17 years implementation of Car Free Day every Sunday, green activist said that the event has failed to serve its main purpose, to tackle air pollution in the city.

Instead, the event which initially aimed to reduce public dependency on private vehicles, to improve air quality in Jakarta, and to shift urbanites lifestyle to more environmentally friendly, is turning into a pop-up market run by local government.

Ahmad Safrudin, director executive of Lead Gasoline Eradication Committee and initiator of Car Free Day in 2002, said that the essence of CFD as the media to inform public to reduce private vehicle use and opt for walking, biking or using public transportation has failed.

“Rather than have improved air quality after Car Free Day, instead smoke and pollution are increasing because of the mobile driver’s license extension, satay vendors, bread vendors, noodles and meatballs and other street vendors,” said Safrudin in Jakarta on Wednesday (18/06/2019). “If only the event successful, marked by increasing pedestrians, people biking and using mass transportation, it will be effective to reduce air pollution.”

Furthermore, he said that the ineffective CFD is because it has not truly implementing the 2016 Governor Regulation and local officials don’t understand the philosophy and essence of car free day in the first place.

“From 2001 to 2005 which we, NGOs such as KPBB, WALHI Jakarta, Pelangi, Bike2Work and others, managed the event. In 2004, we included local government as one of the organizers through the 2005 Regional Regulation on Air Pollution Control. The government started to handle the event on September 2007. Unfortunately, it was not managed properly,” he said.

Putut Sudaryanto, head of Bike2Work Indonesia, an NGO which pulled off from CFD because it’s no longer in line with initial aims, said that public are not aware that the real goal ofnCFD, hence they are still using private vehicles to reach the venue. In addition, there are even more parking lots reserved near CFD areas.

“This is not what’s targeted in the beginning. We consider that the event is not trying to reach the initial goal Hence, as part of B2W Indonesia, we decide to pull ourselves out from CFD Indonesia,” said Sudaryanto.

Nevertheless, Djoko Rianto, head of public participation at DKI Jakarta Environmental Agency, defended the event stating that it has attract micro business as positive result.

“It serves as a place to interact, as a source of income for several citizens, for sports, and for micro business. In addition, we still think that CFD is an effective way to reduce pollution. Generally, pollution level on Sunday on CFD is decreasing,” he said.

World Environment Day on June 5th take on air pollution as this year’s theme under the hashtag #BeatAirPollution. The global action is run by United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

Reports by Dewi Purningsih.

Citizens Filed Lawsuit against the Government for Air Pollution

Redaksi — Thu, 20 Jun 2019 07:58:03 +0000

Jakarta (Greeners) – Following decline air quality in the capital city, Jakarta, a citizen lawsuit was filed by the Initiative for Clean Air Coalition against DKI Jakarta administration.

The lawsuit was filed to Central Jakarta Court by 48 citizens living in Jakarta greater areas as their form of protest to the government for recent air quality.

The defendants are the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home Affairs, DKI Jakarta Governor, West Java Governor, and Banten Governor.

Ayu Eza Tiara of Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation said that the foundation set up complain post via online in April on air pollution in Jakarta which has exceeded its normal standard.

As a result, at least 48 citizens of Jakarta, who comes from biking community, parents of children, office workers who are also pedestrians and use public transportation, among other background reported to the post.

“If based on residential, they come from different cities but the-48-people mostly spent their times in Jakarta, so they come with problems related to air pollution, such as health, human rights violation to transparency on information about air pollution,” said Tiara in Jakarta on Tuesday (18/06/2019).

Furthermore, she said that in the lawsuit, the citizens demanded for clean air guaranteed by the government which comply with standards by World Health Organization, to revise the 1999 Government Regulation on Air Pollution Control.

The lawsuit also demanded minister of health to measure air pollution impacts to health.

Meanwhile, Bondan Andriyanu, campaigner of Greenpeace Indonesia, based on annual average of PM 2.5 in Jakarta, data showed it had reached 34.57 ug/m3 or two times above the national air standard which is 15 ug/m3.

In addition, the ministry of environment and forestry document showed that in 2018, an air monitoring station in GBK showed there are 196 days of unhealthy air.

Health impacts from air pollution, specifically PM2.5, can result to serious respiratory diseases, from respiratory infection, heart disease, lung disease, premature death to lung cancer.

“Central government and regional government are slowly killing their own citizens if they are not taking this issue seriously and take real action to tackle sources of air pollution,” said Andriyanu.

Reports by Dewi Purningsih

World Environment Day 2019 Marks The Campaign To Curb Global Air Pollution

Redaksi — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 04:17:39 +0000

Jakarta (Greeners) – United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) launched global campaign to tackle air pollution on 5th of June to mark World Environment Day by setting up #BeatAirPollution.

This year, China is hosting World Environment Day with the same theme, air pollution.

Indonesia’s Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya, said that World Health Organization warns seven million people died because of air pollution, making it one of the biggest threat of human health.

Hence, UNEP picks up the theme, Beat Air Pollution, for this year’s World Environment Day.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Environment and Forestry celebrates the day by launching “My Blue Sky, My Green Earth” campaign.

“Around the world, there are nine out of ten people affected by air pollution coming from motorcycles, industries, agriculture, and waste burning, ” said Minister Siti in Jakarta on Wednesday (05/06/2019). “Nationally, we adopt the theme with our relevance, My Blue Sky, My Green Earth. The theme is pur efforts to curb air pollution in relation to greening our Earth.”

Furthermore, she said that public transportation such as railways, busway, mass rapid transport (MRT), and light rapid transit (LRT) in Jakarta can reduce air pollution, but also promotes new public spaces, including public parks, pedestrians, which would eventually support lifestyle changes.

She said the efforts will be reflected in the improvement of air quality index.

Generally, air quality from 2015-18 is clean, with six provinces have improved their air quality, — Riau, Lampung, DKI Jakarta, East Java, Banten and South Kalimantan –.

“Nevertheless, provinces like DKI Jakarta, West Java and Central Java still deal with air pollution due to motorcycles. Meanwhile, Pontianak, Jambi, Palangkaraya, Padang and Palembang can change anytime depending on forest and land fires,” she said.

Since 2015, the ministry had developed air quality monitoring system and connected with existing 44 stations.

The monitoring system is equipped with devices to monitor 2.5 micrometer dust particle which is dangerous for respiratory system.

Dasrul Chaniago, Director of Environmental Pollution Control, said that the ministry will develop local air quality monitoring system.

“The 26 air quality monitoring devices or AQMS which we will develop is made in Indonesia, for its cheaper maintenance, all process must be certified by SNI and follow procedures,” said Chaniago adding that the devices have different types with different procedures to operate.

“To use it correctly and the device is correct, to measure air ambient, there should be certified by SNI and needs to be in the stations. If it’s portable, we cannot just carry it and place it near exhaust engine. We are aware of that because we have portable too,” he said.

Furthermore, he said there are rules to measure air quality such as the placing and height of the device as not to result in controversy.

“The device needs to be placed with tripod, the height is 2.5 to three meters above ground, and maximum of 15 meters from the road. So, the device will not be carried by vehicles,” he said.

The ministry will be holding Environment and Forestry Week on July 11-13 in Jakarta Convention Center to celebrate World Environment Day.

Reports by Dewi Purningsih

On 2019 World Environment Day, Indonesia to Focus on Vehicle Emissions

Redaksi — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 14:58:52 +0000

Jakarta (Greeners) – Following China announced as the host for World Environment Day on June 5 and took air pollution as the theme, Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry is focusing on vehicle emissions and strengthening air pollution concentration parameter.

The 2019 World Environment Day will push for governments, industries, communities and individuals to explore renewable energy and green technology, also to improve air quality in cities and regions throughout the world.

It is predicted seven million premature deaths caused by air pollution in the world, at least four million premature deaths occur in Asia Pacific.

In addition, air pollution leads to global economic loss up to five trillion dollars per year in terms of welfare costs and ozone pollution on terrestrial is predicted to reduce food production to 26 percent by 2030.

Indonesian government underlines air pollution control by focusing on vehicle emissions.

Karliansyah, director general for pollution and environmental damage control of Ministry of Environment and Forestry, said that the government is currently developing a policy program of fuel similar to EURO 4, revision of thermal power plant emission quality standards, biomass power plant, environmentally friendly vehicles, such as gas, electric, and light rail transit.

“We are managing our pollutant sources as we can, however, this [type] of emission is being prioritized because emissions from vehicles is the main source of air pollution, of nearly 70 percent. Based on air monitoring, unhealthy air occurs between 7 am to 10 am, and around 11 o’clock, emissions reduced, it will rise again around 3 pm and 7 pm,” said Karliansyah on Friday (05/04/2019). “So, our program is to encourage public to shift from private vehicles to mass transportation. In addition, the ministry is tackling forest and land fires, also peatlands restoration.”

Meanwhile, as the host of 2019 World Environment Day, China is committed to green growth as the country produces half of world’s electric cars and 99 percent of electric buses throughout the world.

China can show its innovation and progress to achieve clean environment.

“China is the suitable host for the 2019 World Environment Day. The country has shown leadership in tackling air pollution issue in the country. It also encourages other countries to do bigger actions. Air pollution is a global emergency affecting all people. China will lead changes and push for global action to save millions of lives,” said Joyce Msuya on a press statement.

Based on the latest UN report on air pollution in Asia and Pacific, by implementing 25 policies on technology will reduce 20 percent of carbon dioxide and 45 percent of methane gas, globally which contributes to a third Celsius degrees of global warming.

Hence, the 2019 World Environment Day will push governments, industries, communities and individuals to explore renewable energy and green technology, and improve air quality in cities and regions throughout the world.

Reports by Dewi Purningsih

Transportation Sector Determines Air Quality Management in the Cities

Redaksi — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 05:30:46 +0000

Jakarta (Greeners) – Increased transportation activities have triggered for air pollution in cities, said Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya, in Jakarta, on Saturday (24/12).

“Seventy percent of pollution in the cities is from transportation sector. With high use of fossil fuel for transportation, the sector is responsible to reduce greenhouse gas emission which contributes to global warming,” said Minister Siti.

In 2020, half of Indonesia’s population will be living in the cities leading to increase transportation, 12 percent per year, dominated by motorcycles. It will cause new problems, not just traffic jams but also road accidents, air pollution and noise pollution.

To tackle the issue, she added that green transportation must be planned without reducing economic and social activities for urban dwellers.

The principle of green transportation is to encourage mobility and accessibility without adding more burden to economics and environment. Promoting green transportation will also provide health protection as it would reduce air pollution in the cities.

“Green transportation also creates healthy habit by giving more choices of transportation aside from vehicles,” she said.

Meanwhile, Director General of Pollution Control and Environmental Damage at the Ministry, Karliansyah, said that air pollution this year was constant compare to 2015.

“In 2016, hydrocarbon had reached past the benchmark was found in Medan city. In addition, 14 cities did not implement Cities Air Quality Evaluation, — Bandung, Bekasi, Depok, Bogor, Surabaya, Tangerang, Malang, South Tangerang, Jayapura, Manokwari, Kendari, Ternate, Palangkaraya, and Pangkal Pinang,” said Karliansyah.

Furthermore, he said the evaluation provided information on air quality, performance and competitiveness of cities for air quality management and green transportation, also to serve as guidance for cities to improve their air quality.

In addition, the evaluation could guide and provide input in the policies and strategies on air quality also act as government’s accountability on their air quality management in the cities.

Karliansyah said there were few components to push for better air quality, such as clean fuels, which improve the vehicles and reduce air pollution.

“We are coordinating with other ministries/agencies to immediately apply EURO 4 policy,” he said. “With this policy, green fuel will be available, which is sulfur with below 50 ppm.”

Next, he said, is shifting to public transportation by increasing cheaper, safer and comfortable public transportation.

Reports by Danny Kosasih

PT Freeport Indonesia Has No Waste Water Monitoring Data

Redaksi — Sat, 19 Dec 2015 11:33:41 +0000

Jakarta (Greeners) – Ministry of Environment and Forestry listed PT Freeport Indonesia in the Red category at its corporate performance on environment management rating or known PROPER in 2015. The red category means that PT Freeport Indonesia does not comply with environmental regulations.

MS Karliansyah, director general for Pollution and Environmental Damage Control at the ministry said PT Freeport Indonesia did not have data on waste water quality monitoring in its area. Hence, Ministry Environment and Forestry issued administrative sanction and listed the company in the Red category.

“The company is currently undergoing its sanction as we found they don’t have waste water monitoring data and we suspected that the water runs through estuary ecosystem area. That is why we gave the company red,” he said in Jakarta on Tuesday(15/12).

Karliansyah said that PT Freeport Indonesia also still has issue with its landfill’s permits which led to problems such as water pollution, air pollution, toxic and hazardous materials, and sea damage.

However, he said that the ministry has yet to take legal actions as they want to give the company the chance to improve its performances. Legal actions, he said, would be taken if the company has no effort at all.

“At the moment, we are just giving guidance for the gold and copper company. The ministry did not make any field monitoring for the past two years over security reasons in Papua,” he said.

Reports by Danny Kosasih