Recently the US has announced to join the International Solar Alliance led by India.
At COP-26, the US has announced its joining as the 101st member of the Solar Alliance. The US seeks to catalyze global energy conversion through a solar-led approach.
- This move will strengthen the alliance. At the same time, it will promote future action on providing the world with a clean source of energy.
- The International Solar Alliance is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization. It acts as a coalition of solar-resource-rich countries (which are located wholly or partially between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn) to meet their special energy needs.
- It was launched by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France during the Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris on 30 November 2015.
- It aims to pave the way for future solar production, storage and realization of technologies for the needs of the member countries. This work will be accomplished by aggregating over US$ 1000 billion by 2030.
Significance for India:
- Gives India a leading position on the global stage, as the two major energy consuming countries (India from the Global South and France from the Global North) have taken significant steps to establish the structure of the ISA.
- It underscores India’s principle of global equality, as it provides representation to rich countries as well as countries such as Fiji and South Sudan.
Related facts:
- Earlier at COP26, the US joined the steering committee of the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative. It also includes Australia, France, Britain and India.
- The OSOWOG concept was revealed as a single global grid for solar power at the first meeting of the Solar Alliance at the end of 2018.
Source – The Hindu
