Air pollution is a growing concern in both developed and developing countries, affecting public health and the economy. In Indonesia, the issue is most critical in the Greater Jakarta area (Jabodetabek). A partnership between the Government of Indonesia, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and ViriyaENB aims to utilize transparent data and scientific research to tackle air pollution, providing a model for the rest of the country. The initiative, supported by national and international experts, focuses on long-term, coordinated interventions. Following an expert exchange event in December 2023, Clean Air Asia (CAA) as one of Coordinating Ministry for Maritime & Investment Affairs (CMMAI) partners hosted a workshop on September 2-3, 2024, to explore sustainable solutions for improving air quality in Greater Jakarta and across Indonesia. 

The workshop was opened with plenary session with presentations from Ardyanto Nugroho, S.Hut., M.M, Director of Complaints, Supervision, and Administrative Sanctions in Environmental and Forestry Affairs, Velly Asvaliantina, M.Eng.Sc. Deputy Director of Connectivity Infrastructures, Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Catherine Witherspoon, Advisor of ClimateWorks Foundation and ViriyaENB, and Suzanty Sitorus Executive Director of ViriyaENB. 

ITDP Indonesia participated in the workshop as both panelist and facilitator. Gonggomtua Sitanggang, Southeast Asia Director of ITDP, served as a panelist in the urban transport session, emphasizing the need to improve the reliability and comfort of public transportation in Jakarta, as well as the importance of “push” policies (ERP, LEZ, parking regulations) in enhancing the quality of sustainable transport systems. Based on ITDP’s Public Transport Integration in Metropolitan Jakarta study, resolving Jakarta’s transportation challenges requires institutional improvements at a metropolitan scale, as transportation issues transcend regional boundaries. 

The urban transport panel discussion also featured Ittipol Pawarmart, Head of the Automotive Emission Laboratory at the Pollution Control Department; Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director of Research and Advocacy at the Center for Science and Environment; He Weinan from the Beijing Transport Institute; and Sigit Irfansyah, Director of Traffic at the Metropolitan Jakarta Transportation Management Agency (BPTJ). 

In the following session, ITDP Indonesia took on the role of a facilitator in the workshop, helping guide the creation of programs and activities focused on improving air quality. Using Jakarta as an example, the group designed initiatives to improve emission testing, bolster air quality monitoring systems, and harmonize regulations across the metropolitan area.