US joins India-led International Solar Alliance

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US joins India-led International Solar Alliance- Relevance for UPSC Exam

GS Paper 2: International Relation- Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.
GS Paper 3: Environment- Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

Recently, the United States of America has become the 101st member country to join the India-led International Solar Alliance (ISA).
The USA’s inclusion in the International Solar Alliance will catalyse global energy transition through a solar-led approach.

US participation will help in the more rapid deployment of solar globally and it will be particularly important for developing countries.
It will strengthen the ISA and propel future action on providing a clean source of energy to the world.
Promoting other Nations to join International Solar Alliance: As it demonstrates that nations across the world are recognizing the economic and climate mitigating value of solar.
- Also, this recognizes the energy source’s potential as a catalyst for the global energy transition.

Background: The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was conceived as a coalition of solar-resource-rich countries (which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn) to address their special energy needs.
Foundation: The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was co-founded by India and France during the 2015 climate change conference in Paris.
- Headquarter: Gurugram, India.
About: ISA is an intergovernmental treaty-based organization. It has been conceived as to be an action-oriented, member-driven, collaborative platform-
- For increased deployment of solar energy technologies to enhance energy security and sustainable development, and
- To improve access to energy in developing member countries.

To collectively address key common challenges to scale up solar energy applications in line with their needs;
To mobilize investments of more than USD 1000 billion by 2030;
To take coordinated action through programs and activities launched on a voluntary basis, aimed at better harmonization, aggregation of demand, risk and resources, for promoting solar finance, solar technologies, innovation, R&D, capacity building, etc.;
Reduce the cost of finance to increase investments in solar energy in member countries by promoting innovative financial mechanisms and mobilizing finance from Institutions;
Scale-up applications of solar technologies in member countries, and
Facilitate collaborative research and development (R&D) activities in solar energy technologies among member countries.
Promote a common cyber platform for networking, cooperation and exchange of ideas among member countries.