Membership of the International Solar Alliance

The International Solar Alliance is an alliance of more than 121 countries, most of them being sunshine countries. The underlying motive is to enhance the scope of harnessing solar energy worldwide. Out of these 121 countries, 60 countries have signed the treaty and about 30 countries have ratified it. These countries lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. This alliance was launched based upon the sidelines of COP21 in November 2015 by Prime Minister Shri Narender Modi and the then French President Francois Hollande. Presently, discussions are going on regarding the expansion of membership of ISA to those countries that are situated beyond the tropics. It is speculated that PM Modi may make an official declaration concerning this expansion at the founding conference of ISA. Two more initiatives of ISA i.e., the solar storage and solar e-mobility, will be launched at the founding conference. Until now Korea, Germany, Nepal, Tunisia and Italy have shown great interest in becoming full fledged members of the ISA. It is high time that harnessing of solar energy takes place globally using advanced technology, especially in countries where it is not so easy.

By: Anuja Arora

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/power/international-solar-alliance-may-extend-its-membership/articleshow/63241695.cms?from=mdr