CLIMATE CHANGE HAS BECOME A SORT OF AFTERTHOUGHT IN 2020. HOWEVER, THE THREAT IS VERY MUCH REAL. HERE'S AN ORGANISATION THAT WANTS TO TAKE ACTION.
A relatively nascent organization, ISA was formed in the year 2015 under the tutelage of India & France. Since then, it has had a growing membership which currently stands at 121 nations. Most of the nations are "sunshine countries" i.e. nations falling partly or completely between Tropic of cancer & Tropic of Capricorn.
INITIATIVES
The members of ISA jointly developed a tool called "Global Solar Atlas". This interactive tool can be used by both businesses as well as governments to check the intensity of sun rays as well as gauge the annual average energy potential in any place in the world. Thus, it can be instantly checked whether the site is feasible enough to set up medium to large scale solar plants.
A more ambitious project in the works is the "One Sun One World One Grid" initiative. India envisages a future where all the major solar power plants would be connected in a single grid on a global scale. The main motive is to create electricity for the whole world using solar energy. So for instance when there is night time in Japan, they could use energy from India & vice versa.
Last but not least is the collaboration with the World Bank to provide greater finance to solar projects to accelerate the adoption of solar energy.
FUTURE PROSPECTS
It remains to be seen if ISA will play a pivotal role in global energy affairs, as of now it is poised to be a major player solely on the basis of a large number of member nations. With regards to the "One Sun One World One Grid" initiative, 67 nations have signed an agreement, a 3 phase plan is set & bids are being invited. So some progress has been made so far.
CONCLUSION
It is evident that India wants to exert global leadership through the ISA. Nations like USA and China have NATO & SCO respectively. In an increasingly climate-conscious world, ISA is a smart move, a sort of modern "green diplomacy".
Recently under the aegis of PM Narendra Modi, India & France have moved closer to become strong allies. Co-operation in the field of diplomacy, defense & security has increased two-fold.
At a time when the United States exited the Paris Agreement & China is building a BRI debt trap infrastructure abroad, such positive actions can portray India in an optimistic light.
It remains to be seen how the ambitious global solar grid is executed. Apart from connectivity & transmission issues, geopolitics can be a major hindrance in today's increasingly fragmented & divisive world.