The lawsuit, directed at seven state officials, initially received a positive response from the Jakarta administration. However, no agreement has been reached even after five mediation meetings inside the courtroom and two outside the courtroom.

The activists, grouped under the Coalition for the Clean Air Initiative, urged the government officials to show “a serious attitude” in guaranteeing the right to healthy living.

One of the plaintiffs, Khalisah, argued that the government’s handling of air pollution under Government Regulation (PP) No. 41/1999 on air pollution control was outdated and did not meet current standards.

“The provisions in the PP are far below the quality standards set by the World Health Organization. The government should not ignore WHO recommendations, especially during the current pandemic,” Khalisah said in a statement on Monday.

Another plaintiff, urban analyst Elisa Sutanudjaja, said that besides encouraging a “new normal” in dealing with the government response to COVID-19, the government should also encourage a “new norm” of reducing air pollution levels.

“[The government should] prioritize non-motorized transportation, as well as public transportation, instead of motorized vehicles,” Elisa said.

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