Clean Air in Jakarta: Practice, Gaps, and Possibilities Toward LEZ (Low Emission Zone)

Jakarta’s effort to improve air quality through the implementation of Low Emission Zones (Kawasan Rendah Emisi/KRE) marks a crucial step toward a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable city. Under the Breathe Cities initiative, Populix and Vital Strategies conducted two phases of research to understand community practices, challenges, and opportunities in supporting this transition.

A city-wide perception survey of 800 respondents across Jakarta in 2024, followed by an in-depth study in ten urban villages in 2025, found that while Jakarta residents express deep concern about air pollution and broad support for clean air policies, they still face structural barriers such as limited access to public transport, waste management and green spaces.

These findings underscore that the success of KRE relies not only on policy but also on active community participation and effective local communication. To ensure that the benefits of clean air reach everyone, KRE implementation must consider social and infrastructure inequalities while empowering local communities as key agents of change toward a cleaner and more inclusive Jakarta.