Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The 4th campaign of the European Mobility Week (EMW) dedicated to sustainable mobility and healthy lifestyles started today in Uzbekistan. 

The campaign encourages people to choose sustainable means of transportation, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping to solve environmental problems (video). Thousands of people will join the “mobility actions” organized by partners (video) during the European Mobility Week under the slogan “Unite in movement! Be the heart of the city!

An international initiative called European Mobility Week was first launched in 2002. The main goal of the action is to draw people’s attention to the problems of movement around the city and spend at least one day a year without a car, preferring walking and alternative means of transportation.

“Truly inspiring is the wide range of ‘mobility actions’ being organized this year by the government and community partners of the European Mobility Week campaign. Our choices for sustainable mobility, such as cycling, affect the well-being of our communities, the health and “heartbeat” of our cities and the planet. Every year we see a growing awareness of how our individual and collective choices for sustainable mobility can make our cities happier and healthier,” said H.P. Charlotte Adrian, Ambassador of the European Union to Uzbekistan

The European Mobility Week campaign was organized by the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Uzbekistan together with partners - the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, the Agency for Youth Affairs, JSC "Toshshahartranshizmat" (Tashkent City Agency for Transport Services), khokimiyats of the city of Tashkent, Sergeli and Yangikhayot districts, as well as public organizations - the running community "Tashkent runners" and the Cycling community of Uzbekistan.

“The objectives of the European Mobility Week - sustainable urban development, greening them, and a healthy environment - are also an integral part of the political vector of our government and the vision of the future of our youth. In this regard, the Resolution of the President “On measures to raise the involvement of young people in mass sports in mahallas to a new stage” was adopted. The Youth Agency is committed to making this vision a reality and encouraging young people to lead a healthy lifestyle. A series of short-distance races involving young people from different mahallas in some areas symbolizes our common aspirations to improve the environment and raise a healthy generation,” said Islom Okhunov, Head of the International Relations Development Department of the Agency for Youth Affairs.

Various figures in civil society, media, sports, business and the diplomatic community such as Charlotte Adrian, Ambassador of the European Union to Uzbekistan, Roli Asthana, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan, blogger Umid Gafurov, athlete Asalya Littos, players of the Uzbekistan women’s national basketball team and others joined the campaign to promote sustainable mobility and talk about their personal choices in favor of environmentally friendly vehicles.

From 19 to 25 September, a number of events and mobility actions will take place as part of the ESM-2022:

- The Agency for Youth Affairs will organize a series of sprints as mobility actions called: "Mahalla in support of the European Mobility Week". Young people from different mahallas of Uzbekistan will take part in these races. These mobility actions will be held: on September 20 in Nurafshan (Tashkent region), on 21 September in Ferghana, on 22 September in Namangan, on September 23 in Andijan and on 24 September in Bukhara.

- To promote simplified, energy-efficient and safe cycling, enthusiasts from the cycling community organize a series of cycling trips, including "Tashkent Night Bike Ride" on 19 September, "Car-Free Cycling Day" on 22 September in Sergeli district of the city, and "Bicycle as sustainable mobility" in Tashkent region on September 24.

- To promote the idea of a green and clean urban environment, the running community "Tashkent Runners" will hold a campaign "Plogging to improve the environment of cities" on 25 September and involve the public in garbage collection in the Tashkent region. (Plogging is a combination of running and garbage collection).

- Car Free Day on 22 September will be marked by the completion of a special large-format wall mural "European Mobility Week" on a 9-storey building bordering two residential and rapidly developing micro-districts of Yangikhayot and Sergeli in Tashkent.