Jakarta Launches Ambitious Clean Air Partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies
Today, the Jakarta Capital City Government (DKI Jakarta), Bloomberg Philanthropies, and implementing partner Vital Strategies, announced the Jakarta Clean Air Partnership, an initiative focused on enhancing the availability and use of air quality data, analyzing policy solutions and their effectiveness, and promoting public awareness on the health impacts of air pollution.
This ambitious partnership released two products. The first is the “Toward Clean Air Jakarta” White Paper, which highlights sources of air pollution in Jakarta, current efforts undertaken to reduce air pollution and an initial set of policy proposals. The Jakarta Clean Air website (Jakarta.CleanAir.id) was also launched as DLH’s platform to provide the people of Jakarta with timely, evidence-based information on air pollution’s sources, impacts and solutions.
The partnership will also collaborate with local and international stakeholders from academia, non-governmental organizations, think tanks and civil society to advance the clean air agenda in Jakarta.
“Improving air quality in Jakarta is a priority made even more urgent by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan in his opening remarks of the launch, held remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Air pollution is a complex issue, which requires a multi-sectoral approach. We are proud to partner with Bloomberg Philanthropies and Vital Strategies to make clean air a priority for the people of Jakarta.”
“When I was Mayor of New York City, we saw that cleaner air doesn’t just improve public health – it goes hand-in-hand with promoting economic growth and environmental sustainability. And managing a problem like air pollution requires being able to measure it at the source,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg LP, three-term Mayor of New York City. “Our new partnership with Governor Baswedan and Jakarta will help the city better track pollution and develop policies to reduce it – and together, we’ll work to establish a model that can be used by cities across Asia and beyond.”
Daniel Kass, Senior Vice President of the Environmental Health Division at Vital Strategies said that there are no quick fixes to improving air quality. “But knowing more about its sources, its health and societal impacts, and the potential benefits from reducing sector-specific emissions is essential to advancing cost-effective solutions. We are pleased that DKI Jakarta is renewing its commitment to clean the city’s air through solid science, sustained and effective policy and strategic communication.”
Head of Jakarta Environment Agency Andono Warih said that this collaboration between the government and the public is needed to improve air quality in Jakarta. “This is proof of our commitment to a cleaner air Jakarta,” said Andono.
This partnership is guided by several workshops with relevant stakeholders conducted since 2019 to elevate governmental and public recognition of air pollution as a critical public health issue—as part of the goal to reduce PM2.5 levels and improve transparency on air pollution issues.
The White Paper and related materials can be accessed here.
Media Contacts:
Christina Honeysett, Vital Strategies: choneysett@vitalstrategies.org; +1. 914. 424. 3356
Nicole Han, Vital Strategies: nhan@vitalstrategies.org; +659828538
Daphne Wang, Bloomberg Philanthropies, daphne@bloomberg.org; +1.646. 771.1473
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in more than 570 cities and over 160 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a pro bono consultancy that works in cities around the world. In 2019, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3.3 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok.
About Vital Strategies
Vital Strategies is a global health organization that believes every person should be protected by a strong public health system. We work with governments and civil society in 73 countries to design and implement evidence-based strategies that tackle their most pressing public health problems. Our goal is to see governments adopt promising interventions at scale as rapidly as possible. To find out more, please visit www.vitalstrategies.org or Twitter @VitalStrat.