Nafas Air Quality Report 2023: A Year in Review
One year has passed, and the new year has arrived. The year 2023 stands as a crucial period for Indonesia as the issue of air pollution has gained prominence within the government, evolving to even become a topic in presidential candidate debates.
Various aspects related to air pollution had significant impacts on the lives of the people. Many fell ill, leading President Jokowi to establish air control strategies and their implementation.
Let's together review the dynamics of air quality in Indonesia with a summary of the Nafas Air Quality Report 2023.
Air Pollution Escalates in 2023
In 2022, the average air quality in the Nafas sensor network showed improvement compared to 2021. However, in 2023, the air quality deteriorated again by 1 µg/m³, reaching 39 µg/m³. What caused this?
According to the analysis by the Nafas team, the surge in air pollution is attributed to the presence of El Niño and IOD+ (Indian Ocean Dipole Positive) phenomena. The combination of these atmospheric dynamics resulted in hot and dry weather, causing calm winds and a more stable atmosphere. This condition led to the accumulation of pollutants near the surface, detected as high pollution levels.
In addition to atmospheric dynamics, looking at the Nafas sensor network data, the air quality conditions showed a generally increasing trend from month to month. This contrasts with the trend in 2022, which formed a peak-like pattern, low at the beginning and end of the year, and high in the middle. The data also indicates a longer dry season in 2023.
South Tangerang & Greater Bandung Top Pollution Charts
The poor air quality in South Tangerang and Greater Bandung dominated the pollution charts throughout 2023. In addition to the numerous pollution sources within and around their respective areas, are there other factors contributing to the high pollution levels?
South Tangerang is susceptible to high pollution due to its geographical features. In the southwestern part of South Tangerang, high plateaus obstruct the dispersion of pollutants to other areas. This results in the wind from the Indian Ocean being blocked by the highland. On the other hand, if there is a sea breeze from the north pushing pollution from DKI Jakarta towards South Tangerang, the pollutants passing through South Tangerang are also obstructed by the existing highland.
Greater Bandung, known as a holiday destination with fresh air, surprisingly ranked among the most polluted areas in 2023. One contributing factor is the geographical and topographical features that support pollutant accumulation, known as the 'Bandung Basin.' This basin-shaped topography traps pollutants at its base, making it challenging for winds to enter and causing pollutants to accumulate within the region.
Which Residents Inhale the Most 'Cigarette Smoke'?
Referring to a study from berkeleyearth.org, Nafas visualized the air pollution levels in the top 10 areas with the highest air pollution, equivalent to cigarettes. Serpong District claimed the top position with the highest equivalent of 993 cigarettes. Two areas outside Jabodetabek, Punggul and Driyorejo in East Java, also made it to the top 10.
This is alarming as we cannot choose the air we breathe. Various groups in society, from children to the elderly, whether healthy or with underlying health conditions, are inhaling the same polluted air.
2023: A Year Full of Unhealthy Air
Throughout 2023, periods of unhealthy air for sensitive groups dominated the air quality conditions in various regions. Healthy air standards were only enjoyed from January to April 2023. The pollution levels varied each month due to events like rain, wind, and inversion conditions. Inversion is a condition where warm air is trapped above cold air, leading to the accumulation of air pollution at the surface.
Compared to Other Jabodetabek Regions, Jakarta Has the Fewest Unhealthy Air Periods
On average, the Jabodetabek region experienced more than 200 days of unhealthy air for both the general public and sensitive groups. DKI Jakarta had the fewest high pollution periods, totaling 4,938 hours or equivalent to 206 days. However, this is not an achievement as it still indicates a dominance of unhealthy air quality throughout 2023.
What contributes to Jakarta having the fewest periods of pollution compared to other Jabodetabek regions?
The strategic location of DKI Jakarta, being close to the sea, allows large-scale winds to pass more easily compared to other regions, especially the coastal areas like North Jakarta.
The large-scale winds referred to here are the Asian monsoon from the west and the Australian monsoon from the east. With these monsoons, the spread of pollution becomes more manageable.
Clean Air Zone Successfully Reduces Indoor Air Pollution Significantly
Clean Air Zone is an initiative by Nafas to improve indoor air quality in business locations in Jakarta. So far, Clean Air Zone has successfully provided clean and healthy air in various places such as schools, offices, gyms, yoga studios, and beauty salons.
Throughout 2023, the average improvement in air quality in Clean Air Zone areas reached 82%! This means that during operational hours, students, teachers, employees, and customers in Clean Air Zone environments consistently breathe much cleaner and healthier air compared to outdoor and non-Clean Air Zone locations. This condition helps reduce the risk of asthma attacks in children, employee productivity decline, and heart diseases.
In conclusion, 2023 showed the complexity of air dynamics in Indonesia. With the increase in air pollution due to El Niño and IOD+ phenomena, the challenge to maintain air quality becomes increasingly urgent.
Through this report, let's continue to monitor and support the steps taken to improve air quality. We hope that the coming years will bring positive changes, allowing everyone to breathe comfortably without worrying about the impacts of air pollution.
