U.S. E.P.A. Partners with Indonesia to Enhance Public Health in Jakarta

WASHINGTON -- The E.P.A. is partnering with the government of Jakarta to enhance air quality and public health through the "Breathe Easy, Jakarta" program. E.P.A. will provide an initial investment of $450,000 to launch this initiative.

"The U.S. acknowledges Indonesia as an essential partner in strengthening global environmental protection," said Michelle DePass, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of International Affairs. "It is our hope that this plan will lead to noticeably improved air quality that will benefit anyone who lives, works, or travels to this important capital city."

The plan aims to better understand Jakarta's air pollution problems and to develop cost-effective strategies for improvement. E.P.A. and its partners will provide technical assistance and training for developing air quality monitoring and emissions inventories.

In Indonesia yesterday, DePass met with Fauzi Bowo, Governor of Jakarta, to discuss the details of the program. Her visit follows E.P.A. Administrator Lisa P. Jackson's October visit to Indonesia, in which she offered technical assistance to the Jakarta government. DePass will also meet with the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to discuss other opportunities for environmental partnerships.

One of the 1st steps in launching "Breathe Easy, Jakarta" will be to create a stakeholders group to determine key priorities and develop a strategy. Stakeholders will include government officials, technical experts, local NGOs, and the public.

This initiative is just one example of the successful partnership between E.P.A. and Indonesia to address pressing environmental and public health issues. In the past, the bilateral collaboration has worked to phase out lead in gasoline and evaluate air emissions from forest fires.

More information on the partnership: http://www.epa.gov/international

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