International Solar Alliance:
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) during the 42nd session of ICAO Assembly in Montreal, Canada.
- Cochin International Airport in India became the world’s first fully Solar powered airport in the world in 2015.
- The MoU carries forward the legacy of ISA.
- The event marks a new beginning for solar energy use in the global civil aviation sector.
- It will enable the solarization of the aviation sector across all Member States of ISA
- It aims to check the growth of CO2 emissions in the Aviation sector, leading to India’s Net Zero Targets.
- It will work towards providing information, providing advocacy, capacity building and demonstration projects.
- India has pledged for Net Zero Carbon goal by 2070 in COP 26.
- India has pledged a target of installing 175 GW of renewable energy of which 100 GW will be solar energy by 2022 and reduction in emission intensity by 33-35% by 2030, to let solar energy reach the most unconnected villages and communities.
International Solar Alliance (ISA):
- Co-founded by India and France during 2015, the ISA is an action-oriented, member-driven, collaborative platform for increased deployment of solar energy technologies.
- Its basic motive is to facilitate energy access, ensure energy security, and drive energy transition in its member countries.
- ISA is the nodal agency for implementing One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG), which seeks to transfer solar power generated in one region to feed the electricity demands of others.
- The Headquarters is in India with its Interim Secretariat being set up in Gurugram.
- A total of 109 countries have signed the ISA Framework Agreement and 90 have ratified it.
- All member states of the United Nations are eligible to join the ISA.
