International Solar Alliance key achievement since Paris: PM

Before the International Solar Alliance (ISA) summit to be held in Delhi in March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the alliance as the “single most important global achievement after Paris (climate deal of 2015).”

Speaking at The Energy  Research Institute’s (TERI) World Sustainable Development Summit, the Prime Minister said that India was committed to its renewable energy targets and had added more than 14 gigawatts (GW) to solar energy generation, from just 3GW in 2014.

“India believes in growth but is also committed to protecting the environment. It was with this thought that India, along with France, initiated the International Solar Alliance. It already has 121 members. It is perhaps the single most important global achievement after Paris,” Modi said.

Citing the UNEP Gap Report, he said India is on track to meet its Copenhagen Pledge of reducing emissions intensity of its GDP by 20-25 per cent over 2005 levels by 2020.

The ISA, launched during the Paris climate change conference, is India’s brainchild. India has offered Rs 100 crore for creating ISA’s corpus fund and the alliance will attempt to mobilise $1 trillion in investment in solar energy by 2030 across the member countries.

French President Emmanuel Macron will participate in the March summit.