Jokowi Asks Jakarta People to Plant Trees for Reducing Air Pollution
- VIVA/Farhan Faris
Jakarta – The Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Monday asked the public to plant as many trees as possible in the DKI Jakarta to reduce air pollution.
"I invited all of us to rehabilitate the forest and plant as many trees as possible in our environment," President Widodo stated at the event of Environment, Climate, Forestry, and New Renewable Energy (LIKE) Festival at Indonesia Arena Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday.
According to the President, the residents or the government must be more active in planting trees in Jakarta, because the number of trees is decreasing, while vehicles are increasing.
"Especially in Jakarta, trees are decreasing but vehicles are increasing, causing pollution," the President said.
Therefore, President Jokowi said that many Jakarta residents are coughing due to air pollution.
"Many Jakarta residents are coughing due to air pollution. I also urge cyclists to wear masks to reduce air pollution," the President said.
As information, Jakarta is ranked third among cities with poor air quality, according to IQAir on Monday morning.
Jakarta's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 149 or unhealthy with a PM2.5 concentration of 55.2 micrograms per cubic meter.
Lately, the government has been trying to overcome air pollution problems that make Jakarta's air not feel fresh, such as the obligation of high buildings in DKI Jakarta to have water mist.
The Jakarta Environmental Agency will make this mandatory for building owners and will add standardization to the water mist equipment.