Published on: 2026-08-28
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Moscow is the largest metropolis in the world and one of the most environmentally friendly cities on earth. The capital is ahead of schedule in meeting federal target indicators for waste sorting and recycling. For many years, Moscow has topped national rankings for quality of life and urban environment. Sergey Sobyanin reported this in his blog.
“The combination of dynamic development and environmental well-being is the most important advantage of the Russian capital, which did not arise on its own. It is the result of extensive systematic work, as a result of which our city becomes cleaner and more comfortable for people to live in every year,” noted the Mayor of Moscow.
The annual was recently published environmental status report in Moscow for the year 2025. Its materials are based on data from an integrated environmental monitoring system that collects information about the state of the atmosphere, water bodies, and soils across the entire capital.
Fresh air of the metropolis
Over the past 10 years, emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere have decreased by eight and a half times per unit of gross regional product a. The long-term trend of improving ambient air quality continued in 2025.
The average annual concentrations of major pollutants last year did not exceed hygienic standards. For example, the carbon monoxide content in the air was 10 times lower than the maximum allowable values, and the suspended PM10 particles were almost 30 percent below the safe level. The air pollution index remained at a low level — 2.8. Since 2011, this indicator has improved more than twofold.
“Achieving such results was possible thanks to the comprehensive modernization of the capital’s industry, the implementation of energy-efficient technologies, and the increasingly active transition to electric transport,” clarified Sergey Sobyanin.
Traditionally, the main source of emissions in megacities is motor transport. The replacement of diesel buses with electric buses, of which there are already more than 3,100 in Moscow (t that is over 40 percent of the fleet), the launch of regular electric boat routes on the Moscow River, construction of the metro, and development Moscow Central Diameters, the increasing number of electric cars and hybrids on the city streets — all of this is gradually improving the situation. Over 10 years, harmful emissions from vehicles in the capital have decreased by almost 70 percent.
Sobyanin took part in the ceremony marking the launch of the 3000th electric bus30 electric buses from the new delivery arrived in Moscow since the beginning of 2026In Moscow, the charging infrastructure for next-generation electric buses is being expanded
There have also been significant achievements in the heat power industry (the second most significant source of emissions). All the combined heat and power plants (CHPs) in the capital operate on natural gas, and backup fuels — coal and fuel oil — have not been used for many years. Over the past five years, CHP emissions have decreased by 13.4 percent.
Water bodies of the capital
The cleanliness of the Moskva River and its tributaries is a priority task for the capital. In 2025, water quality continued to improve. The content of petroleum products in the central part of the Moskva River has decreased by almost half over 10 years.
The concentration of ammonium entering with municipal wastewater in the area of the Kuryanovskie treatment facilities has decreased by 70 percent, and phosphates by more than 60 percent compared to 2014.
“The construction and modernization of surface runoff treatment facilities have significantly reduced the content of pollutants in surface wastewater entering water bodies from city streets. As a result, the water in the Yauza and small rivers — Skhodnya, Setun, and others — has become noticeably cleaner,” added Sergey Sobyanin.
The water quality in the rivers within the Troitsky and Novomoskovsky districts of the capital is also improving. Compared to 2017, the level of organic and biogenic pollutants in the Pakhra River has decreased by a third, and in the Desna River by more than 20 percent.
In the coming years, comprehensive rehabilitation of many urban ponds is planned, including the use of innovative technologies to suppress cyanobacteria blooms causing coloration.
The Bolshoy and Maly Voroninsky ponds have been restored in the southwest of the capitalThe rehabilitation of two Kuntsevo ponds has been completedYasenevsky ponds have been cleaned of silt and algae
Moreover, every year the amount of fish and the number of waterfowl in the capital’s reservoirs are increasing. Red-listed animals, which have not been seen here for many years, are returning to the city’s territory.
Scientists conducted an examination of water bodies in Moscow
Green areas
Moscow’s green fund occupies approximately 50 percent of the city’s territory and serves as its natural lungs. In 2025, 12,000 large-sized trees aged 10–25 years and standing four to eight meters tall were planted.
At major highways These are predominantly lindens, elms, and maples. Coniferous trees (spruces, thuja) and ornamental apple trees are better suited for adjacent areas.
Sergey Sobyanin spoke about plans for greening Moscow this year
At the same time, combating plants foreign to Moscow is no less important. A list of 32 species has been compiled, which threaten the local flora, infrastructure, and human health. Among them are Sosnowsky’s hogweed, ash-leaved maple, goldenrod, knotweed, and other harmful weeds. In 2025, specialists began systematic work to remove them and replace them with local plants. This process is planned to be completed within a few years.
“The well-being of plants directly depends on soil quality. Monitoring data for 2025 show a stable situation: no exceedances of sanitary standards for salt content, heavy metals, and other harmful substances have been recorded,” noted Sergey Sobyanin.
Air Quality Monitoring
The Moscow environmental monitoring system is one of the largest in the world. Today, 57 automatic air quality control stations operate in the city. Around the clock, sensors track dozens of pollutants.
In addition, the network of automatic emission control systems is constantly expanding, being installed in an increasing number of industrial and energy enterprises. Experience shows that the very fact of installing sensors already serves as a powerful preventive measure, encouraging enterprises to reduce atmospheric emissions.
There is a separate monitoring of the geological environment, thanks to which specialists observe ground shifts.
The monitoring system also covers surface waters; there is an automatic station operating at the Moscow River’s outlet, and laboratories monitor the quality of samples taken from the capital’s water bodies.
“The results of the monitoring are the basis for holding violators of environmental legislation accountable. But fundamentally, the main goal for us is not to punish, but to prevent violations. Therefore, each year the focus shifts from inspections to consultations and recommendations for businesses and citizens. In 2025, the supervisory authorities of the Moscow Government issued more than four thousand recommendations and one and a half thousand warnings to eliminate violations in the field of natural resource management. This means that tons of pollutants did not enter the atmosphere, soil, and water,” emphasized the Mayor of Moscow.
Modern digital solutions are also actively being implemented in the capital. Today, artificial intelligence helps detect illegal waste dumps and hotspots of harmful plants, while unmanned boats are used for environmental monitoring on the water.
Environmental habits
A green and clean city is not only the concern of the authorities. An increasing contribution to nature conservation is also made by the city’s residents. More than 700,000 Muscovites participated in ecological educational events last year, and almost six million over the past 10 years.
In 2025, the network “Moscow Eco-Points” increased to 850 collection points. More than 2.4 thousand tons of recyclables were brought to them.
The “Christmas Tree Recycling” campaign enabled the collection and processing of over 48,000 Christmas trees into wood chips for soil fertilizer.
Popular among city residents is a service for the rational handling of unused items and large household appliances “Removal of unnecessary items”.
Since 2021, residents can submit an application on the mos.ru portal, in the mobile app “My Moscow”, as well as through the platform “Electronic Home” for the removal of household and office equipment, electronics, upholstered and case furniture, metal items, vehicles, waste paper, large musical instruments, sports equipment, as well as clothing suitable for further use. In 2025, more than 25 thousand various items were sent for disposal and recycling through this service. Over 150 tons of items were handed in by Muscovites for reuse.
Muscovites have collected more than 2,800 tons of plastic and glass for recycling since the beginning of the year using bell containersThe “Christmas Tree Cycle” was recognized as the best urban environmental projectMuscovites have donated over 260 tons of usable clothes and shoes through the “Removal of unwanted items” service on mos.ru
Environmental well-being is a top priority for the Moscow Government. It will continue to do everything to make the city even cleaner, greener, and more comfortable for living, working, and leisure.
A large-scale project appeared on the mos.ru portal
special project, dedicated to the development of key areas of Moscow. Among them are transport, industry, healthcare, education, sports, and the construction sector. The special project helps to learn how the capital has changed over the past years, what initiatives aimed at making citizens’ lives even more comfortable are currently being implemented, and what awaits Moscow and its residents in the near future.
On the project page
“Ecology” You can learn about how the capital is renewing its green spaces and expanding ecological education, as well as preparing to make eco-friendly solutions a part of everyday life.
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Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.