In a bid to facilitate the global transition from fossil fuels, the United States on Wednesday, November 10 became the 101st member country to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) first formed and endorsed by India and France on November 30, 2015
The USA, which had initially not joined the list of signatories, had been in talks to join the alliance since 2016. The country formally signed the framework agreement of the ISA during a meeting between India’s Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav and US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry.
In a statement released thereafter, Kerry expressed the country’s elation to be a part of the global action to transition to solar power through the ISA, mentioning the role Prime Minister Narendra Modi played in its formation. “We worked out the details and this is a process we are pleased to be a part of,” he stated.
“This will be an important contribution to the more rapid deployment of solar globally. It will be particularly important for developing countries,” he added, commenting that solar energy is at the heart of urgent climate change.
The USA’s support will also strengthen ISA’s framework for the global ‘Green Grid Initiative (GGI)- One Sun One World One Grid, launched together by PM Modi and United Kingdom’s PM Boris Johnson on November 2 during the COP26 summit.
Meanwhile, Yadav also welcomed the US’ participation in employing a solar-led approach to transition to clean energy as part of the ISA framework, stating that the move will bolster the alliance and encourage future action on delivering a clean energy source to the world.
ISA’s Director-General Ajay Mathur deemed the move by the US a heartening development, noting that it signified the global recognition for the economic and climate mitigating value of solar energy and wielding its potential as a catalyst for the global energy transition.
