Air We Breathe (ongoing progress)
Greater Jakarta, or Jabodetabek, is among the cities with the poorest air quality in the world. In 2023, Greater Jakarta (encompassing Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi) witnessed a significant increase in acute respiratory infection (ARI) cases, rising from an average of 100,000 between January and July to over 200,000 by August—an equivalent of 6,000 daily cases.
Despite Indonesian authorities acknowledging the contribution motorized vehicles and coal-fired power plants (PLTU) have made to the city’s air pollution crisis, there have yet to be any substantial efforts to overcome this problem.
This photo story was part of the South and Southeast Asia Program for Narrative and Documentary Practice Level 1 program led by Philip Blenkinsop. This 12-week tuition-free course explored how to develop a lasting career in visual storytelling, including conceiving, researching, and planning project ideas.
