Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – Namangan has been ranked as the cleanest city in Uzbekistan according to the new Uzbekistan’s Green Cities Rating.

The rating was unveiled in Tashkent on 11 July and compiled by the National Climate Change Center under the Ministry of Ecology based on the Green City Index, a research project by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

The methodology of the Green City Index in Uzbekistan includes seven groups of indicators: air quality, land use, water consumption, transportation, energy, waste management, and sanitation. Nearly half of the indicators are quantitative, based on official data including recycling rates and pollutant concentrations. Assessments of city environmental policies contribute to qualitative indicators. Cities are evaluated based on overall ratings and individual ratings in each category.

The inaugural Uzbekistan’s Green Cities Rating includes 14 administrative centers of Uzbekistan. The rating will be updated annually based on the implementation of approved Environmental Master Plans (EMP).

In the first Uzbekistan’s Green Cities Rating, Namangan secured the top spot with a score of 62.29 out of 100.

Samarkand followed in second place with 61.13 points. The third position is held by Navoi (59.50 points).

Also in the top five are Karshi (57.25 points) and Jizzakh (56.03 points). Tashkent ranked 12th among the 14 cities with a score of 46.44 points.

The presentation also featured the introduction of the first Environmental Master Plans for urban areas. Bukhara and Samarkand have been selected as pilot cities for these plans.

These plans were developed by the National Climate Change Center in collaboration with the khokimiyats (local administrations) of the pilot cities and regional departments of the Ministry of Ecology. These documents will serve as action plans for urban administrations to improve infrastructure and spatial planning, enhance energy efficiency, and reduce negative environmental impacts and resource depletion.

"We aspire for our cities to compete in environmental friendliness, inspiring each other to achieve higher standards of environmental protection. The importance of environmental master plans and ratings lies in making ecological indicators key performance metrics and primary criteria in assessing city development. Through such initiatives, we can ensure a healthy future for our citizens and preserve Uzbekistan’s natural wealth," noted Aziz Abduhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan.

A significant outcome of this effort has been the creation of environmental passports for the 14 provincial capitals, based on indicators from the international Green City Index methodology.

Environmental master plans and environmental passports for each region of the republic will be gradually developed and updated annually. Key performance indicators will be formulated based on the results of recommendations outlined in the environmental master plans, which will directly impact the city or district’s ecological sustainability rating. This measure is provided for in Presidential Decree No. 81 of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Suna Park, Advisor to the Minister and Director of the National Climate Change Center, introduced the online platform https://greencities.uz. On this website, anyone interested can find out where their city ranks in the rating, review environmental passports and master plans, and receive current information on measures to improve ecological sustainability in Uzbekistan’s cities.