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Elevating Jakarta's skies through sustainable city logistics revolution
Even though commercial vehicles are not the highest contributors to air pollution, at 36 percent, it is essential to recognize that their emissions tend to have a negative impact 13 to 14 times higher than other vehicle types.
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Hazy days: Vehicles congest both toll and arterial roads on Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta on Aug. 1, 2023. Emissions from fossil fuel-powered vehicles are among the major causes of increased air pollution in the capital. (Antara/Galih Pradipta)
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ately, the spotlight on air pollution issues in Jakarta has intensified. Air quality in the city has been a hot topic in the media since May and this month it earned the unenviable title of the world's capital with the worst air pollution.
Data from the Environment and Forestry Ministry showed the major contributors to Jakarta's pollution surge, with vehicle emissions (44 percent) and industrial zones (31 percent) leading the charge. Among these vehicle contributors, motorcycles (45 percent) and commercial vehicles such as buses, trucks and diesel engines (36 percent) stand out as the primary culprits. Adding to the complexity, Jakarta finds itself encompassed by at least 10 coal-fired power plants emitting hazardous pollution waste. The culmination of the dry season and the prevailing wind patterns have further exacerbated the city's dire situation.
Various quarters have put forth solutions such as working from home, electric vehicle acceleration and the promotion of public transportation. While numerous alternative solutions have been proposed, they tend to lean toward passenger transportation and, regrettably, very few have addressed the logistics angle – particularly in the realm of commercial vehicles, such as trucks and diesel engines.
Even though commercial vehicles are not the highest contributors, it is essential to recognize that their emissions tend to have a negative impact 13-14 times higher than other vehicle types. Moreover, commercial vehicles operate continuously throughout the day to bolster productivity, resulting in higher emissions per vehicle compared with private vehicles.
As such, to combat the escalating air pollution crisis, the focus should also encompass the emissions generated by commercial vehicles.
Recent years have witnessed an explosive surge in e-commerce transactions in Indonesia, escalating fivefold in the last five years. To put things in perspective, in 2022, over 3.5 million online shopping transactions contributed to the surge (Bank Indonesia, 2022).
This upswing has significantly augmented the demand for shipping services and logistics in Indonesia, spawning a proliferation of express courier businesses. These couriers vie for supremacy by offering the best customer service, often promoting their speed of delivery as a competitive advantage.
