Speaking at a meeting with environmental activists, academics and experts on Thursday, Pezeshkian said insufficient attention has been paid in previous periods to balanced development and the geographical capacities of different parts of the country.
He stressed that population and economic activities cannot continue to expand in a region without considering its basic resource capacities and expecting the imbalance to remain without long-term consequences.
The president also attributed part of the worsening impact of floods, storms, land subsidence and other natural hazards to improper human intervention and exploitation of nature, saying the approach must be corrected.
Pezeshkian identified the expansion of renewable energy, particularly solar power, as a major government priority. He said increasing electricity generation from renewable sources, raising the share of clean energy and managing consumption were necessary to address energy imbalances and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
He also called for a comprehensive approach to the development of solar power systems, including the use of scientific and technological solutions to improve efficiency and reduce water consumption for cleaning solar panels.
Among other priorities raised by the president were giving precedence to recycled water for suitable uses, improving water efficiency in agriculture, preventing excessive extraction from mines and natural resources, making greater use of universities in addressing environmental challenges, and using neighborhood- and mosque-based initiatives to tackle local environmental issues.
Pezeshkian also stressed the potential of modern technologies, including drones, for real-time monitoring of natural resources and the environment and for reducing risks faced by environmental rangers.
He described environmental protection as an element of Iran’s national and social security, stressing that the protection of natural resources should be addressed within this framework.