Moscow is one of the most actively developing European megalopolises. Therefore, the participation of Moscow in the International Programme on Sustainable Cities is of the paramount importance. In 1999 the Moscow government plans to pass the Moscow Master Plan for the period up to the year 2020. Principles of sustainable development in Moscow based on the international achievements in the field of conservation and development of the urban environment, urban planning and development of business, dwelling, industrial and recreation areas in the biggest cities of the world should become the scientific basis of the plan.

Consideration of citizens’ requirements in healthy environment and improvement of life quality is necessary for sustainable development of a big city in modern world. This should be remembered when planning all fields of city policy such as demography, social, economic, living, industrial, energy and environment policies. In the capital of the Russian Federation, one of the biggest and fast changing cities in the world, significant changes in the legislation, social, economic and environmental conditions have occurred in the last years. The most important legislative acts of the Russian Federation and Moscow have been passed during this period. They determined the status, regulation, administrative and territorial structure, economy and legal mechanisms of the city management.

During the last years the City-Construction Code of the Russian Federation and other federal and city laws and directives in the field of city planning and rational use of natural resources have been passed. These legislative acts together with world experience on sustainable development of big cities provide good basis for the development of the principles of sustainable development in Moscow and suburban green zone. According to the City-Construction Code of the RF, activities of the state authorities, local self-governments, private people and legal entity in the field of city planning, project development, construction and reconstruction of real property constitute the basis for the municipal activities. Moreover, the requirements of the citizens as well as national, historical and cultural interests and environmental specificity of the territory should be also taken into account.

The Moscow Master Plan up to 2020 should be aimed at the increase of life quality, decrease of negative environmental effects from the household and industrial activities, preservation of architectural and historical heritage in Moscow for the future generations, complex and balanced development of all branches of the city infrastructure.

General improvement of the environment in Moscow and Moscow region visualises the implementation of corporate regional policy on environmental protection and rehabilitation of the areas of environmental crisis. Creation of favourable living conditions should be based on environmentally-friendly construction, economic and social policy aimed at sustainable development of Moscow and suburban green zone and suggesting its active rearrangement.

Moscow and Moscow region constitute an interrelated regional economic and natural complex, which plays a key role in the economic development of the Russian Federation. Sustainable development of this region should be based on the corporate decisions of economic and environmental problems taking into account the functions of Moscow as the capital as well as the interests of Moscow region.