More than 20 nations join India-led International Solar Alliance

The International Solar Alliance (ISA), brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, moved to the next level with more than 20 countries, including India, France and Brazil, inking its framework agreement on Tuesday on the first day it was opened for signature on the sidelines of the UN climate conference (COP22) here on Tuesday .

More countries are expected to join it formally in coming weeks. The ISA -a collective voice of sunshine rich nations --will enter into force when in the next step 15 countries ratify it after completing their respective domestic processes. It will help these countries bargain as a group for get ting access to low cost finance and technology to boost solar energy. 

The ISA was launched at the UN climate change conference in Paris on November 30 last year by Modi and French President Francois Hollande after the former had given a call to all solar rich countries to form a coalition to specifically address energy needs by tapping the power of the sun.This alliance provides a platform for 121 prospective member countries to collaborate and address the identified gaps through a common agreed approach.

Welcoming the countries move to sign the ISA framework agreement, within 11 months of its launch, India's environment minister Anil Madhav Dave said, “The ISA activities have increased significantly and many initiatives are under implementation. With legal framework in place, the alliance will be a major international body, headquartered in India.“

News Source : TOI | 16Nov2016| Wednesday