The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is an alliance of more than 120 countries, most of them being sunshine countries, which come either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. The alliance's primary objective is work for efficient exploitation of solar energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. This initiative was first proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a speech in November 2015 at Wembley Stadium, in which he referred to sunshine countries as suryaputra ("sons of the sun"). The alliance is a treaty-based inter-governmental organization. Countries that do not fall within the Tropics can join the ISA and enjoy all benefits as other members, with the exception of voting rights.
The initiative was launched by Modi at the India Africa Summit, and a meeting of member countries ahead of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in November 2015. The Framework Agreement of the International Solar Alliance opened for signatures in Marrakech, Morocco in November 2016, and 121 countries have joined.
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Headquarters
The ISA is to be headquartered in India. In January 2016, Narendra Modi, and the French President François Hollande jointly laid the foundation stone of the ISA Headquarters and inaugurated the interim Secretariat of the ISA at the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) in Gwalpahari, Gurugram. The Indian government has dedicated five acres of land on the NISE campus for ISA's future headquarters; it also has contributed INR1.75 billion (US$27 million) to the fund to build the ISA campus and for meeting expenditures for the ISA's first five years.
The alliance is also called International Agency for Solar Policy and Application (IASPA).
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Objective
The focus is on solar power utilization. The launching of such an alliance in Paris also sends a strong signal to the global communities about the sincerity of the developing nations towards their concern about climate change and to switch to a low-carbon growth path. India has pledged a target of installing 100GW by 2022 and reduction in emission intensity by 33-35% by 2030 to let solar energy reach to the most unconnected villages and communities and also towards creating a clean planet. India's pledge to the Paris summit offered to bring 40% of its electricity generation capacity (not actual production) from non-fossil sources (renewable, large hydro, and nuclear) by 2030. it is based on world co operation.
Geographical importance
The area of Earth located in between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn is called the tropical (torrid) zone. The points on the Tropic of Cancer are the northernmost points up to which the Sun can pass directly overhead. Similarly, the southernmost points are on the Tropic of Capricorn which follow the same criteria. Location at the north of the Tropic of Cancer shows the Sun appearing at the south of the zenith. The sunniest countries of the world are on the African continent, ranging from Somalia- Horn of Africa-, east to Niger, west and north to Egypt.
For India, the possible additional benefit from the alliance can be the strengthening ties and with the major African countries increase goodwill for India among them.
India's Role
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi established the International Solar Alliance through an initiative when he addressed the 2015 gathering in UK.
The headquarters will be set up in India with an initial investment of $30mn. In first phase, $400M will be raised from membership fees along with international agencies. India already has ambitious targets of achieving renewable energy that it will generate more than 175GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022 and decrease emission intensity by 33 to 35 percent by 2030. India will endorse clean energy, sustainable environment, public transport, and climate adaptive agriculture through this initiative.
India has also launched a tool named IESS 2047 (India Energy Security Scenarios 2047 calculator) which aims to explore the potential of future energy scenarios for India.
Countries joined
The alliance is a treaty-based inter-governmental organization. The Framework Agreement of the International Solar Alliance opened for signatures in Marrakech, Morocco in November 2016, on the sidelines of the Marrakech Climate Change Conference (the twenty-second session of the Conference of the Parties, or COP 22). On its first day (15 November), sixteen countries signed the Agreement: India, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Dominican Republic, the Republic of Guinea, Mali; Nauru; Niger; Tanzania; Tuvalu; Cambodia; Ethiopia; Burkina Faso; Bangladesh and Madagascar. By 17 November, Guinea Bissau, Fiji, France, Vanuatu and Liberia also signed the agreement.
Subsequently, an additional 107 countries joined the agreement, including all major countries that lie between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, including Mexico, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, India, Australia, New Zealand, and China. A conclave started from 30 November 2015 for the sunshine grouping, called the InSPA (International Agency for Solar Policy & Application).
Future targets
India, with the support of France, has invited more solar rich nations to facilitate infrastructure for implementation of solar projects. The alliance has been committed $1 tn as investment, and it is committed to making the costs of solar power more affordable for remote and inaccessible communities. The alliance will endorse India in achieving its goal of generating 100GW of solar energy and 175GW of renewable energy by 2022. The countries shall support each other in research and development as well as other high level activities.
It is also seen as an alliance by the developing countries to form a united front and to undertake research and development for making solar power equipment within developing countries.
Progress
On June 30, 2016, the alliance entered into an understanding with the World Bank for accelerating mobilization of finance for solar energy. The Bank will have a major role in mobilizing more than US $1000 billion in investments that will be needed by 2030, to meet ISA's goals for the massive deployment of affordable solar energy.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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