NEW DELHI: The International Solar Alliance is likely to be a recognised multilateral agency of the United Nations by this year end. Speaking at 8th World Renewable Energy Technology Congress, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Coal, Power, New and Renewable Energy and Mines, Piyush Goyal said, “Before the end of this calendar, we will see the International Solar Alliance as a multilateral agency ratified by the first 15 countries who would then be founding members.”
ISA was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francoise Hollande in November 2015. It aims to channel $300 billion in 10 years to promote renewable energy projects under a global mega fund for clean energy.
The ISA was instituted to connect nearly 121 solar-resource-rich nations for research, low-cost financing and rapid deployment of clean energy.
Taking a jibe at United States of America’s wavered stand, Goyal noted that the impact of climate change was not being recognised seriously across the world. He said, “Climate change for many countries remained something in the distant future and they never recognised it as such…I won’t even go in to what is happening in some developed countries right now. I can only hope that it’s a transient phase.”
But the world as a whole has recognised that climate change is a serious issue. It is a challenge we have to address, he added.
Source: thehindubusinessline
