International Solar Alliance

Why in news?

• The UN General Assembly has conferred Observer Status to the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

International Solar Alliance:

• International Solar Alliance (ISA) is conceived as a coalition of solar resource rich countries to collaborate on addressing the identified gaps in their energy requirements through a common approach.
• The alliance is a treaty-based inter-governmental organization.
• It was unveiled by Prime Minister of India and French President at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Paris on 2015.
• The primary objective of the alliance is to work for efficient consumption of solar energy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels
• It is headquartered in India (Gurgaon).

Members:

• Currently 101 countries have signed the ISA Framework Agreement; and 80 countries have ratified it.
• The ISA is open to 124 prospective member countries, most of them located between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. This is the region worldwide with a surplus of bright sunlight for most of the year.
• Countries that do not fall within the Tropics can join the alliance and enjoy all benefits as other members, with the exception of voting rights.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding International Solar Alliance:

1. The alliance is a treaty-based inter-governmental organization.

2. It is headquartered in Paris, France.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer