India re-elected as International Solar Alliance's president
France has been re-elected as vice-president of the alliance, says Indian minister
November 04, 2024
India has secured its position as the president of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for the 2024-2026 term, with France re-elected as vice-president. This announcement was made by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi during the 7th General Assembly of the ISA.
The assembly appointed Ashish Khanna as the Director General Designate of ISA, set to assume office in March 2025 following Ajay Mathur’s term. Khanna, a senior World Bank energy expert, has been instrumental in advancing sustainable energy initiatives, particularly in emerging markets. With extensive experience in policy reform, infrastructure, and clean energy, he is well-positioned to drive ISA's mission forward.
In addition to the presidency, vice-presidents from four ISA regions were selected:
Africa Region: Ghana and Seychelles as vice-presidents, with South Sudan and Comoros as vice-chairs.
Asia and Pacific Region: Australia and Sri Lanka as vice-presidents, with UAE and Papua New Guinea as vice-chairs.
Europe and Others Region: Germany and Italy as vice-presidents, with Greece and Norway as vice-chairs.
Latin America and the Caribbean Region: Grenada and Suriname as regional heads, with Jamaica and Haiti as vice-chairs.
ISA continues to support solar energy projects in developing regions, showcasing scalable solar technologies through its Demonstration Projects for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
In 2020, ISA launched Demonstration Projects to address the needs of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
These projects were designed to showcase scalable solar technology applications and enhance the ability of member nations to implement similar solar-powered solutions.
Joshi highlighted that 11 of these projects were specifically devoted to benefiting the populations of various countries, including Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cuba, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Samoa, Senegal, The Gambia, and Tonga.
He emphasised ISA's continued commitment to assisting governments in expanding solar energy initiatives to enhance the quality of life for their citizens.
According to its website, ISA is a collaborative initiative between India and France aimed at uniting efforts to combat climate change by implementing solar energy solutions.
It was conceptualised, the website says, on the sidelines of COP21 in Paris in 2015. Following a 2020 amendment to its Framework Agreement, all UN member states are now eligible to join the Alliance.
"Currently, 100+ countries are signatories, with 90+ countries having ratified to become full members. Its mission is to unlock $1 trillion in solar investments by 2030 while reducing technology and financing costs," it added.
