Green zones and comfortable walking spaces are expanding in mahallas across Uzbekistan as part of the national project 'Yashil Maqon'. One such example is the implementation of this initiative in the Saikal mahalla of Samarkand city, where sidewalks are gradually being transformed into shaded pedestrian streets.
This project involves planting 550 trees and shrubs, as well as landscaping an area spanning about 700 meters. This measure is expected to improve the microclimate for residents, especially during hot periods. As a result of the landscape design, the ground temperature in this area is projected to decrease from 43°C to 35°C, and the asphalt temperature should drop from 48°C to 39°C.
The creation of shaded pedestrian routes is part of broader efforts to develop green infrastructure in settlements across the country. In accordance with the State Program for implementing the Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy in the Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy, a network of similar streets is planned along the main sidewalks used by residents.
According to specialists, increasing greenery and forming shaded pedestrian paths can reduce air pollution by 5–10% and lower the air temperature along sidewalks by 3–5°C. Furthermore, such spaces can promote increased physical activity and create more favorable conditions for walks among the population.
Attention is growing regarding the 3-30-300 principle in landscape design, which is used in modern urban ecological planning. According to this principle, every person should be able to see at least three large trees from their home. The presence of greenery in the immediate visual environment is considered a factor that helps reduce stress and improve the quality of the urban environment.
The second indicator requires that at least 30% of the mahalla or district be covered with trees. This level of greening helps ensure shade, improve air quality, and mitigate the urban heat island effect. The third benchmark mandates access to a green zone, meaning that every residential building must be located no further than 300 meters from the nearest park, public garden, or other green area. This corresponds to approximately a five-minute walk and creates conditions for regular sports, physical activity, and social interaction among residents.
The national project 'Yashil Maqon' has been implemented in Uzbekistan since 2021 under the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan. As part of this project, at least 200 million fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs are planted every spring and autumn. Currently, the project extends beyond simple tree planting; mahalla territories are being improved, new green zones are being created, and pedestrian routes are being developed to improve the microclimate in densely populated areas.
The example of the Saikal mahalla in Samarkand demonstrates how a large-scale environmental initiative is gradually transforming into concrete projects that directly affect the daily lives of citizens. The development of green infrastructure, the creation of shaded streets, and the expansion of landscaped areas are viewed as important tools for increasing the resilience of cities to heat and other consequences of climate change, as well as for forming a healthier and more comfortable urban environment.
Following the announcement of a security pact involving Greenland, the autonomous territory of Denmark, diplomatic leaders from the United States, Denmark, and Greenland met during an Arctic Council session. This council includes the United States, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden, and the meeting took place in New York, parallel to the UN General Assembly.
In a statement, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott declared that the allies agreed that security in the Arctic region requires constant investment to protect this crucial territory and discourage strategic competitors.
Discussions between Rubio, his Danish counterparts, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and the Greenlandic representative, Múte Egede, focused on assuming greater responsibility for Arctic security through the development of sovereign military and economic capabilities.
This was the first public meeting between representatives of the three parties since President Donald Trump announced on Friday a 'historic' security agreement regarding the Arctic island, whose military invasion had been threatened earlier this year.
Although the full content of the agreement has not been disclosed, it would provide the United States with a permanent military presence on the island and prevent access by Russia and China, while respecting Denmark's sovereignty over the autonomous territory and Greenland's right to self-determination.
The Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, and the Greenlandic Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, traveled to New York on Sunday, where the agreement signing was scheduled for Tuesday.
Donald Trump created a crisis with European allies this year by threatening to annex the Danish autonomous territory, given its strategic location in the Arctic and its natural resources sought by Washington.
Despite the lack of disclosure of details, the Danish government emphasized that the agreement on Greenland honors Copenhagen's 'red lines,' ensuring the country's sovereignty, even if Washington maintains 'permanent control' over the area's security.
Mette Frederiksen stressed that the pact 'recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination.'
Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Denmark's Foreign Minister, expressed satisfaction on social media with the end of 'a long period of uncertainty,' hoping it will be followed by 'a binding agreement that will strengthen security in the Arctic and North Atlantic,' as well as in Denmark within NATO and Europe.
According to the Donald Trump administration, the understanding prohibits China and Russia from establishing bases in Greenland or making sensitive investments without permission, also opening up space for strengthening the American military presence.
A 1951 defense agreement, updated in 2004, already gave US armed forces almost carte blanche to install structures in Greenland, requiring only notification of the authorities.
In Tashkent, Uzbekistan, a pilot project has started to create a dedicated lane for small mobility vehicles on a 2.4-kilometer section of Lyutfi Street.
This experimental project is intended to serve as a model for implementing similar infrastructure on other streets in the capital. The dedicated lane is designed for bicycles, electric scooters, electric mopeds, and other types of small mobility transport.
The Tashkent City Traffic Management Center was responsible for implementing the project. The goal of creating the lane was to separate the flows of cars and pedestrians.
The growing number of private transport users and delivery services increases the load on urban space. Without special infrastructure, micro-mobility users are forced to travel either alongside cars in the general traffic flow or on sidewalks with pedestrians. Differences in travel speeds in such conditions create inconvenience for all road users.
After conducting tests on Lyutfi Street, the new format demonstrated positive results. Specialists assessed the convenience and clarity of the lane for users, as well as the potential of organizing dedicated infrastructure for micro-mobility in urban traffic conditions.
Future plans include paying more attention to the physical protection of such lanes. Depending on the condition of the road surface, they can be separated from vehicle traffic using dividers, barriers, and other protective elements. This aims to reduce the probability of micro-mobility users' routes intersecting with car routes.
After completing the testing, the Center's specialists are already studying other areas of Tashkent where this solution could be applied. Developing such infrastructure should ensure the separation of traffic flows: cars should move on the roadway, pedestrians should remain on sidewalks, and bicycles and other small mobility devices should use the dedicated route.
US Vice President JD Vance visited Greenland in March 2025, a visit received by the authorities in Nuuk and Copenhagen as a provocation.
Donald Trump even admitted the possibility of 'using force' to take the territory of 57 thousand inhabitants, causing great apprehension in the European Union and NATO allies.
Currently, the United States maintains only the Pituffik Space Force base (former Thule base) on the island, after decades of reducing its presence, although Danish authorities have pointed out that this policy was a decision made by Washington.
