Environmental Group Laments Govt's Statement on Pollution Resolve

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Forum for Living Environment (Walhi), an environmental group, lamented President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's statement about resolving pollution. The president mentioned that the solution to air pollution in Jakarta is by relocating to Nusantara New Capital (IKN). 

"We regret that the shallow statement which trivializes the problem came from a president who was once the Governor of Jakarta," said Walhi Executive Director, Suci Fitriah Tanjung, to Tempo on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.

Furthermore, Suci also mentioned that the air pollution citizen lawsuit won by the citizens has actually answered the core of the problem.

"Form over-consumption of dirty energy for motor vehicles, stationary emissions from the surrounding industries and power plants, and open burning waste," she said.

Suci believed that Jokowi should have acknowledged that the pollution issue in Jakarta is not that straightforward. "The President could have instructed his ministries to do something applicable," Suci added.

According to Suci, nothing would be as effective to solve air pollution without an inter-ministerial discussion with the Ministry of Domestic Affairs, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and the regional governments of Jakarta, West Java, and Banten to solve transboundary emissions.

Previously, Jokowi said on Monday, August 7, 2023, that one of the solutions to air pollution is to shift the burden to IKN. In addition, Jokowi also proposed the development of mass transportation such as MRT and LRT to combat air pollution.

AMELIA RAHIMA SARI | ANTARA

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