Jakarta - The Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta held the Grand Emission Test/ Uji Emisi Akbar (UEA) 2023 as part of the commemoration of World Environment Day and the 496th anniversary of Jakarta City. UEA 2023 took place at the North Parking Area of Ragunan Wildlife Park on Monday, June 5. This event set a record with the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI) for the largest emission test in Indonesia, with 2,615 participants.

The Secretary of DKI Jakarta, Joko Agus Setyono, stated that the Grand Emission Test marked the beginning of the implementation of three important policies aimed at encouraging motorized vehicles to meet the emission limits by conducting emission tests as an effort to improve air quality.

"These three policies are intended to make the Emission Test more effective and have an impact on reducing emissions and air pollution. Of course, this still requires the participation of the community, so the efforts made are collective," he continued.

The Head of the DKI Jakarta Environmental Agency, Asep Kuswanto, revealed that the three policies mentioned by the Secretary include the pre-implementation legal compliance campaign before imposing traffic fines by the Police, the imposition of a fine coefficient for Motor Vehicle Taxes (PKB), and the widespread implementation of parking disincentives in both the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government-managed parking areas and private parking lots.

The Director of Security and Safety of the Indonesian National Police Traffic Corps, Brigadier General Drs. Ery Nursatari, MH, conveyed that air pollution is caused in part by the rapid development of motorized vehicle fuel combustion. By improving the transportation sector, pollution can be reduced.

"Vehicle Emission Testing is a contribution from the community to control air pollution. With vehicles passing the emission test, it reduces the air pollution burden from motor vehicle exhaust gases."

The Director of Water Pollution Control at the Directorate General of Pollution Control and Environmental Damage (PPKL), Lukmi Purwandari, also mentioned that by conducting emission tests, it is hoped that vehicle users will be more concerned about the exhaust emissions produced by their vehicles.

"With emission tests, it is expected that people will be more aware of the exhaust emissions produced by their vehicles and aim to meet the standards set in regulations. Therefore, vehicle users will take better care of their vehicles and use more environmentally friendly fuels," Lukmi added.

Based on a study conducted by Vital Strategies, an implementing agency of Bloomberg Philanthropies in Indonesia, in collaboration with the DKI Jakarta Environmental Agency, compliance with emission standards has been scientifically proven to be the most effective step in reducing emissions and improving overall air quality.

Country Coordinator of Vital Strategies, Chintya Imelda Maidir, added that based on their study and the Jakarta Environmental Agency, new collective interventions would only bring the PM2.5 concentration back to the level in 2019 by 2030. This means that more aggressive actions are needed to reduce the annual average level of PM2.5 below the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) of 15 µg/m3.

She further emphasized that air pollution is a transboundary issue. Harmonization in implementing these three policies within the Jabodetabek area is crucial. "The signing of a joint commitment by the Jakarta Environmental Agency, the West Java Provincial Environmental Agency, the Banten Provincial Environmental Agency, and all the Heads of District/City Environmental Agencies in the satellite areas of the capital is highly strategic," she said.

A number of collaborative steps as a continuation of this joint commitment in various aspects, such as the inventory of Jabodetabek emissions and integrated air pollution control strategies, will be eagerly awaited by the public, she added.