International Solar Alliance

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has become the latest United Nations agency to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

International Solar Alliance

• The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was jointly launched by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France in 2015 at UNFCCC CoP 21 Paris, France.
• In March 2018, the first meet of International Solar Alliance was held in New Delhi, India.
• It was conceptualized on the side-lines of the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Paris in 2015.
• ISA is partnership of solar resource rich countries to address their special energy needs and provide a platform to collaborate on development of solar energy resource
• It is an intergovernmental body registered with the United Nations under Article 102 of the UN Charter.
• The ISA is open to 121 countries, most of them located between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. However, ISA is now considering to open the membership to all countries.
• Mission: Every home no matter how far away, will have a light at home
• The Headquarters is in India with its Interim Secretariat being set up in Gurugram.
• At present, 109 countries are signatories to the ISA Framework Agreement, of which 90 countries have submitted the necessary instruments of ratification to become full members of the ISA.
• The ISA is guided by its ‘Towards 1000’ strategy which aims to mobilise USD 1,000 billion of investments in solar energy solutions by 2030, while delivering energy access to 1,000 million people using clean energy solutions and resulting in installation of 1,000 GW of solar energy capacity.

One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG)

• The concept of OSOWOG, which the British have called a green grid, pitches the idea of a transnational solar grid, from which different countries can draw power.
• The OSOWOG idea was first floated by the Indian Prime Minister in 2018 during the first assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
• The vision behind the OSOWOG mantra is “the Sun never sets” and is a constant at some geographical location, globally, at any given point of time.
• The project has been taken up under the technical assistance programme of the World Bank.
• Aim– By 2050, a single power grid of renewable energy be accessible across continents — with production in one continent and distribution of power in another.
• It has been taken up under the technical assistance program of the World Bank.

The 3 Phases of the Plan:

• First Phase: It will entail inter-connectivity within the Asian continent.
• Second Phase: It will add Africa.
• Third Phase: It is about global interconnection.

International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)

• International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations charged with coordinating and regulating international air travel.
• ICAO was established in 1944 by Convention on International Civil Aviation(Chicago Convention).It is headquartered in Quebec,Canada.
• It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth.
• ICAO council is composed of 36 states which are elected for a three-year term.
• The council member states are chosen under three headings (a)states of chief importance in air transport (b)states which make the largest contribution to the provision of facilities for air navigation and (c)states whose designation will ensure that all major areas of the world are represented.