Iran's Ministry of Roads and Urban Development signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany's Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety to develop the New Hashtgerd City's pilot project.
Gunther Adler, the German federal ministry's state secretary, said that investing in Iran's housing and new energies are among his country's priorities, the Ministry of Roads website quoted him as saying Saturday.
Adler said that his country is prepared to offer solutions to curb fossil fuel consumption and said, "Making use of renewables in residential buildings would make a huge contribution to decreasing air pollution."
Mohsen Nariman, head of the New Towns Development Company, said the agreement was about cooperation in developing sustainable plans for creating new cities, developing standards for curbing pollution, knowledge transfer and training, spreading public awareness to safeguard the environment, financing new towns, and introducing green technology in sustainable development of new towns.
The German delegation was invited by the Road Ministry's New Towns Development Company to study the possibility of employing advanced construction and fuel-saving technologies in Iran
The Germans also visited the Roads Ministry to discuss collaboration avenues with top officials.
Abass Akhoundi, the minister, noted during the meeting that housing and transport sectors are major fuel consumers -- accounting for 60% of the total fuel consumption--and that the country is planning to launch a nationwide energy-saving scheme.
Appreciating other countries' experience in dealing with the issues, Akhundi emphasized the need for standards, incentives, financial resources and advanced technologies to achieve sustainable growth.
"Cutting the use of fossil fuels is an international agenda; however, Iran needs to raise cultural awareness in this area and increase its people's purchasing power."
