Smita Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 11

India and France today co-chaired the founding conference of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) that was launched at the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement conference to tap solar energy and renewables in Tropical Belt countries.

Prime Minister Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the conference at Rashtrapati Bhavan with 22 Heads of States and Governments, including Presidents of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in attendance.

In his opening remarks, PM Modi presented a ten-point action plan to make solar energy and technology affordable through concessional financing for all developing nations. ISA aims to generate over 1,000 GW of solar capacity and mobilise investment of over $1 trillion by 2030 for developing countries. India is committed to generating 175 GW from renewable energy sources by 2022.

“Vedas consider the Sun as the soul of the world, it has been considered as a life nurturer. Today, for combating climate change, we need to look at this ancient idea to find a way,” the PM said. “To promote the use of solar energy, the availability of technology and development, economic resources, reduction in prices, development of storage technology, mass manufacturing, and innovation require a complete ecosystem,” he further added.

In remarks alluding to US President Donald Trump, Macron said some countries left the Paris Climate Accord while others “decided to act and keep acting”. “We should not forget that we only have one planet and we are sharing it and for that there are no alternatives. There is a joint destiny which means we also have some joint duties,” added Macron. France has pledged nearly USD 862 million of additional loan and donations for solar projects in emerging economies by 2022.

Macron and Modi will also jointly inaugurate Uttar Pradesh’s largest solar plant in Mirzapur on Monday. The outcome document Delhi Solar Agenda notes that ‘renewable energy is an important pathway to a less carbon-intensive, more efficient and more sustainable energy system’ and seeks ‘to pursue an increased share of solar energy in the final energy consumption’ of respective national energy mix of member countries. Of the prospective 121 plus members, 61 have so far signed up for the inter-governmental body while 32 countries have ratified the ISA framework till date.

Aiming at 175 GW from renewables by 2022: pm

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India will generate 175 gigawatts (GW) of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2022. This would be more than double the present renewable energy capacity and would be enough to overtake renewable expansion in the European Union for the first time

He also called for concessional financing and less-risky funds for solar projects to raise the share of solar power in the energy basket, provide cheaper electricity and cut carbon emissions

Macron takes a dig at Trump; hails India