Jakarta’s worsening air pollution crisis has reached a point where residents can no longer rely solely on government action, experts and environmental advocates say, urging the public to take proactive steps to protect their health.

While public attention has largely focused on outdoor air pollution, recent research shows that poor indoor air quality poses an equally serious threat, often exposing residents to even higher levels of harmful pollutants inside their own homes.

Air pollution has become so routine in the capital that alarming figures no longer provoke public outrage. On Dec. 7, Jakarta’s PM2.5 level reached around 26 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³), according to Swiss air quality monitor IQAir about five times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended annual exposure limit of 5 µg/m³.

Despite such levels being linked to asthma, lung damage, heart disease, kidney failure, hypertension, and neurological symptoms, many residents have come to accept pollution as part of daily life. Hospitals, meanwhile, continue to see a steady flow of patients suffering from pollution-related illnesses.

The Jakarta administration has taken steps to address the problem, including expanding public transportation through TransJakarta, MRT and LRT services, and imposing restrictions on private vehicle use. The city’s environment agency is also finalizing an air quality control roadmap aligned with Indonesia’s climate action plan, targeting a 30 percent reduction in emissions by 2030.

However, officials acknowledge that achieving this target will be difficult without strong public participation. Jakarta currently has more than 12 million registered vehicles, including over 2.3 million cars and 9.1 million motorcycles, while its public bus fleet stands at just over 36,000 units. Authorities estimate that more than 70 percent of private vehicles fail to meet emission standards, despite ongoing campaigns such as the Blue-Sky initiative.

Adding to the challenge, a recent article published by East Asia Forum warned that air pollution inside Jakarta homes often exceeds outdoor levels. The study, authored by six scholars including Budy Resosudarmo of the Australian National University and Athia Yumma of the SMERU Research Institute, found average indoor PM2.5 concentrations of 40.7 µg/m³, compared to 37.8 µg/m³ outdoors.

The researchers noted that poorer households are particularly vulnerable due to permeable building materials, poor insulation and inadequate ventilation, allowing polluted air to enter living spaces more easily.

To mitigate health risks, experts are calling for renewed public health measures, including the voluntary revival of face mask use in public spaces, schools and offices. They also recommend providing free or affordable masks, especially for low-income communities.

Environmental groups and health professionals are urging city authorities, civil society organizations and residents to work together to address what they describe as a silent but escalating public health emergency.

Without collective action, they warn, Jakarta’s air pollution both indoors and outdoors will continue to pose a serious threat to millions of lives.