International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an important initiative taken by Govt. of India to create platform to address issues related to production of solar energy. It was formally launched on 30 November, 2015 by Prime Minister Modi and then French President Francois Holland during the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris. This Alliance is expected to have in its fold as many as 121 member countries which fall within the sun-rich area between Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
ISA in Brief
- Membership (As of 2017): 121 nations
- Interim Director General: Mr. Upendra Tripathy (Indian)
- Founded at: Gwal Pahari
- Founder: Narendra Modi
- Founded: 1990
- Headquarters: Gwal Pahari, Gurugram
Why was it in news recently?
The Republic of Nauru, the world’s smallest island nation has become sixth country to ratify the Solar Alliance Pact.
The International Standing Committee of International Solar Alliance (ISA) has already had meetings in such varied cities as Paris, Abu Dhabi, New York and New Delhi on 25th January, 2016. The foundation stone of the ISA headquarters at Gurugram (India). The interim Secretariat of the Alliance has already come into functioning from the same city. Govt of India will bear the cost of building infrastructure as well as recurring initial expenses which come up to Rs. 400 crore. The later recurring expenses will be met from contribution from the member countries and other bilateral and multi-lateral agencies as well as from the interest accruing from corpus fund to be provided by Government of India. The IRED and Solar Energy Corporation of India have already announced to contribute $1 million each to the International Solar Alliance (ISA) corpus fund.
It is proposed to extend training support to member countries at National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) and also to run demonstration projects for prospective end users of solar energy.
Countries which accepted the Framework
At the last meeting of ISC held at New Delhi on 5th October 2016 circulated a draft Framework Agreement among the prospective member countries for acceptance as well as suggestions so that ISA could be made a treaty-based organisation. Till non 31 countries have accepted the framework. Such countries include (in alphabetic order) Bangladesh, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Ghana, Guinea, Bissau, India, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Nauru (latest nation to join ISA), Niger, Republic of Guinea, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The International Solar Alliance (ISA) will become a legal entity once 15 countries ratify the framework agreement and deposit the same to the body.