Tashkent and Samarkand have become members of the Green Cities Network run by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Certificates confirming their membership were issued on August 20 by the secretariat of the Green Cities Initiative at FAO headquarters in Rome.
The network is a global community of cities working together to build greener, healthier, more resilient and more inclusive urban environments. It supports sustainable urban development through integrated approaches to city greening and strengthens cooperation among member cities, according to the FAO's representative office in Uzbekistan. The news was also confirmed by Uzbekistan's National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change.
The network promotes integrated solutions and strategies across three key areas: urban and peri-urban forestry; urban and peri-urban agriculture; and sustainable bioeconomy development.
"Membership in the FAO Green Cities Network gives Tashkent and Samarkand access to technical support and capacity-building, opportunities to exchange knowledge and experience, participation in platforms for inter-municipal cooperation, assistance in aligning with relevant global frameworks and environmental agendas, help in building partnerships, mobilizing resources and attracting investment, and greater international recognition as leading cities championing sustainable urban development solutions," the statement said.
The Green Cities Initiative was launched in 2020 with the goal of delivering measurable improvements in the health and well-being of urban residents, as well as in environmental conditions, across 1,000 cities worldwide by 2030.
Cooperation within the network is guided by the Green Cities Communiqué, along with FAO's principles and criteria for green cities. The communiqué was unveiled at the first International Conference on Green Cities in 2025, and it sets out a shared vision and collective commitments to advancing a global movement for greener cities.
In the initial phase of their participation, the Green Cities Initiative secretariat will provide Tashkent and Samarkand with additional guidance on conducting a preliminary self-assessment. That process will help identify priority areas for each city and shape technical assistance tailored to its specific needs.
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