The purpose of this study is to characterize the environmental behavior of the population and attempt to identify its models, as well as develop directions and mechanisms for improving urban environmental policy based on levers of influence on existing patterns of behavior, considering the goals of sustainable development. To solve the objectives set in the study, general scientific methods were used: theoretical: analysis of peer-reviewed scientific sources on the research problem to clarify the features of the environmental behavior of the urban population and empirical: a survey method. It has been proven that the mechanisms of direct involvement of citizens in environmental actions and resource-saving practices are effective, since they become the beginning of a dialogue between the main stakeholders of the process: local and central authorities and public organizations of various orientations. Periodic studies of the environmental friendliness of the behavior of the city's population in the future will make it possible to assess the effectiveness of the city authorities and become the basis for future management decisions.