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INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE
5.1
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was jointly launched by the Prime Minister of India
and the President of France on 30 November 2015 at Paris, France on the side-lines of the
21st Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
ISA has been envisioned as a specialized platform to contribute towards the common goal
of increasing utilization and promotion of solar energy and solar applications in its member
countries. The Paris declaration on International Solar Alliance states that the countries share
the collective ambition to undertake innovative and concerted efforts for reducing the cost
of finance and cost of technology for immediate deployment of competitive solar generation.
Financial instruments to mobilise more than 1000 Billion US Dollars of investments needed by
2030 will ultimately pave the way for future solar generation, storage and good technologies
for countries’ individual needs.
5.2
During the year ISA has made tangible progress. Two Programmes of the ISA “Affordable
finance at scale” and “Scaling solar applications for agricultural use”, have been launched in a
Ministerial side event on ISA on 22 April 2016 on the margins of signing of Paris Agreement on
Climate Change in UN Headquarters in New York, USA where Hon’ble Ministers from India
and France were present. CMD, IREDA and DG, NISE respectively have been designated as
Country Representative for these programmes. Eight countries (Bangladesh, Ethiopia, France,
India, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Uganda) are participating in these Programmes. Initial
interactions have been held among the country representatives of these programmes.
The Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Independent Charge), Shri Anil Madhav Dave signing the
framework agreement on International Solar Alliance, in Marrakech, Morocco on November 15, 2016.
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5.3
On 22 April 2016, the Interim Administrative Cell of International Solar Alliance (ISA Cell)
and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) issued a Joint Declaration for
cooperation to promote ISA’s objectives. Follow up meetings have been held with UNDP to
further the cooperation activities. On 30 June 2016, the ISA Cell and the World Bank declared
their intention to promote solar energy globally. On 15 November 2016, the Climate Parliament
and the ISA cell also issued a joint declaration for cooperation in solar energy area.
5.4
In order to make ISA a treaty based inter-governmental organisation, a draft Framework
Agreement was first circulated in the 1st ISC meeting on 1 December 2015. A revised draft
Framework Agreement, developed with inputs from the prospective member countries of ISA
was presented in the 4th ISC meeting on 5 October 2016. Signing and thereafter ratification,
acceptance or approval by 15 countries will make ISA an Agreement based inter-governmental
organization.
5.5
Main provisions of the Framework Agreement are as under:
i.
The Preamble invokes the Paris Declaration on ISA;
ii. ISA membership is open only to the countries between tropics (fully or partially situated);
iii. Partner Country status to be granted to other countries beyond the tropics (by the decision
of ISA Assembly) with no voting rights;
iv. ISA will have two tiers - Assembly and Secretariat;
Minister for New and Renewable Energy Mr. Piyush Goyal and French Environment Minister Ms. Segolene Royal at
ISA Ministerial Event in United Nations, 22nd April 2016, NY
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v.
vi.
countries;
The ISA source for revenue will be non-mandatory and voluntary contributions of its
Members; voluntary contributions from Partner countries, bilateral and multilateral
organizations, UN & its agencies; earnings on corpus fund; and other possible sources in
vii. UN will be a strategic partner; and
viii. This Framework Agreement shall be registered pursuant to Article 102 of the Charter of
the United Nations.
5.6
The Framework Agreement of the ISA was opened for signature on 15 November 2016 in
Marrakech, Morocco on the side-lines of 22nd Conference of Parties to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change. Shri Anil Madhav Dave, Hon’ble Minister for
So far twenty four countries have signed the Framework Agreement. These are Bangladesh,
Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia,
Fiji, France, Republic of Guinea, Guinea Bissau, India, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Nauru, Niger,
Senegal, Seychelles, Sudan, Tanzania, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Tonga. With Cabinet approval on
The representatives of the Signatory countries with the Minister of State for Environment, Forest and
Climate Change (Independent Charge), Shri Anil Madhav Dave, after the signing ceremony of the framework
agreement on International Solar Alliance, in Marrakech, Morocco on November 15, 2016.
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