Greenpeace Criticizes Jokowi on Jakarta's Air Pollution Issue

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Greenpeace Indonesia, the climate and energy activism group, regrets the decision of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his ministries to submit for cassation to the Supreme Court concerning the case of air pollution in Jakarta. Previously, Jakarta High Court denied the president's appeal to the case.

"Citizens sued (Jokowi and his ministries) in 2019 and won the lawsuit in 2021. In 2022, Jokowi and his ministries filed an appeal and were denied and (the decision) was upheld. Meaning, the citizens have won twice in the case," said Greenpeace spokesperson Bondan Andriyanu in Jakarta, on August 9, 2023.

Bondan said that the court asked Jokowi to establish an air quality standard to protect sensitive groups. The court also asked Environment and Forestry Ministry to establish air pollution evaluation or monitoring for West Java, Banten, and Jakarta.

Air pollution is considered transboundary pollution. Meaning, pollutants in Jakarta could enter other regions and vice versa. Thus, West Java and Banten also hold a critical role in air pollution as Jakarta's buffer cities.

"Therefore, coordination between the regional governments is necessary to maintain the source of the air pollution," Bondan said.

Previously, the Judges decided that the Respondents have conducted an unlawful act related to air pollution management. 

The respondents in the case are President Jokowi, the Minister for Environment and Forestry, the Minister of Home Affairs, the Minister of Health, and the Governor of Jakarta. The Governor of Banten and the Governor of West Java were also submitted as Respondents.

OHAN

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