Extending Jakarta’s CFD may raise awareness but not dent pollution
While the city administration has cited emissions reduction as a potential benefit of extending CFD to Saturdays, Walhi says it would do little to help improve air quality, though it could provide a foundational base for a wide-ranging public awareness campaign.
The Jakarta administration is contemplating extending its Car Free Day (CFD) program to include Saturdays, a decision that could potentially raise public awareness regarding air pollution and carbon emissions. However, environmental groups remain skeptical about the policy's effectiveness in reducing pollution levels.
Environment Minister Jumhur Hidayat first proposed the extension, suggesting that adding a 3.5-hour extra period without motor vehicles to the Sudirman-Thamrin and Rasuna Said thoroughfares might help curb pollution. The idea was further supported by M. Taufik Zoelkifli, who chairs the City Council’s Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction. He suggested a three-month trial period prior to the policy's full implementation.
Deputy Jakarta Governor Rano Karno has responded positively to the proposal, stating that the city administration is seriously considering the addition and trial. He acknowledged that the move could potentially lower carbon emissions, but emphasized that a more thorough assessment would be required before any trial could take place. This is due to the fact that some offices and businesses remain open on Saturdays, necessitating careful traffic management and consideration of workers' mobility.
While extending CFD to Saturdays may provide a solid foundation for a wide-ranging public awareness campaign about air pollution, environmentalists argue that it would do little to improve the city's air quality.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
