International Solar Alliance (ISA)

Definition

A treaty-based intergovernmental organisation, co-founded by India, that aims to mobilise solar energy deployment and investment among sun-rich countries to address energy access and climate change.

Key points

• It was launched jointly by India and France in 2015 at the Paris Climate Conference (COP21); its headquarters and interim secretariat are at Gurugram, India, making it the first international intergovernmental organisation headquartered in India.
• Membership was initially open to countries lying fully or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn (the "sunshine countries"), and was later opened to all UN member States.
• Its goals include scaling up solar power, reducing the cost of solar finance and technology, and promoting initiatives such as "One Sun One World One Grid" (OSOWOG).
• It is closely associated with India's leadership on climate action and clean energy, alongside the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (also India-led).
• It is a treaty-based body, distinct from informal groupings.

Why it matters for CAPF

The ISA is a flagship of India's climate diplomacy; its 2015 launch with France, its Gurugram headquarters (first such body in India), and its OSOWOG initiative are common current-affairs items.

Common confusion

The ISA is a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation headquartered in India, not a UN agency. Membership widened from "between the tropics" to all UN members. Do not confuse it with the India-led Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, which addresses infrastructure resilience.

Related concepts

concept g20, concept greenhouse effect, concept neighbourhood first, concept sagar doctrine

Parent note

international organisations and india