Consider the following statements: 1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015. 2. The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Contents13
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (A) 1 only
Answer: (a) 1 only
Statement 1 (✓ CORRECT):
The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was launched at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris in November 2015, jointly by India's PM Modi and France's President Hollande.
Statement 2 (✗ WRONG):
ISA does NOT include all UN member countries. It was designed for solar-resource-rich countries lying fully or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn (the 'Sunshine Belt'). Countries far from the tropics were not the primary target.
Key ISA facts:
- Joint initiative of India and France
- Headquarters in Gurugram (India)
- Aim to mobilise $1 trillion in solar energy by 2030.
Common mistake:
Students assume 'international alliance' = all countries. But ISA focused on tropical/sunny countries, not the whole UN.
ISA was launched at COP21 Paris in 2015 as a joint initiative by India and France to mobilize $1 trillion for solar energy by 2030.
The question tests whether students understand that international organizations can be selective rather than universal - ISA targets countries in the 'Sunshine Belt' between the tropics, not all UN members.
International Solar Alliance
Environment International Solar Alliance
International Solar Alliance: Launch, Membership & UPSC Facts
ISA launched at COP21 Paris, November 2015 by India's PM Modi and France's President Hollande
Membership limited to countries lying fully or partly between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn
Headquarters in Gurugram, India
Target: mobilise $1 trillion in solar energy by 2030
What is ISA
The International Solar Alliance is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization focused on promoting solar energy deployment among sun-rich countries. Unlike global climate bodies, ISA specifically targets nations with abundant solar resources in the 'Sunshine Belt'.
ISA Key Details
Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
Launch Date | November 2015 at COP21 Paris |
Founding Countries | India and France (joint initiative) |
Headquarters | Gurugram, India |
Target Membership | Countries between Tropics of Cancer & Capricorn |
Financial Goal | Mobilise $1 trillion in solar investments by 2030 |
Legal Status | Treaty-based intergovernmental organization |
Membership Criteria
Geography-based: Only countries lying fully or partly between the two tropics can join
Solar potential focus: Designed for nations with high solar irradiation
Not universal: Unlike UN bodies, ISA excludes many northern/southern countries with limited sun
Later amendments allowed all UN members to join, but original focus remains tropical countries
ISA Member Countries
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Source: Saur Energy — International Solar Alliance: US, China Keen to Join Global Body · www.saurenergy.com
Trap: Statement 2 assumes ISA includes all UN members — wrong, originally limited to tropical countries
Confusion: 'International' doesn't mean universal — ISA is geography-specific
Year trap: Launched in 2015, not 2016 when COP22 happened
Location mix-up: Launched at Paris COP21, not at any Indian summit
COP21 Paris Climate Conference
Environment United Nations Climate Change Conference 2015
COP21 Paris 2015: Paris Agreement & Key Outcomes
COP21 held in Paris, November-December 2015
Produced the Paris Agreement — landmark global climate deal
International Solar Alliance launched at this conference
Goal: limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably 1.5°C
Significance
COP21 in Paris was the 21st Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC, where 196 countries adopted the Paris Agreement — the first universal climate accord. It marked a shift from top-down targets to bottom-up national commitments.
COP21 Major Outcomes
Initiative/Agreement | Key Feature |
|---|---|
Paris Agreement | Universal climate accord, entered force 2016 |
International Solar Alliance | India-France initiative for solar cooperation |
Temperature Goal | Limit warming to well below 2°C, aim for 1.5°C |
NDCs | Nationally Determined Contributions — bottom-up pledges |
Climate Finance | Developed countries to provide $100 billion/year by 2020 |
India's Role at COP21
PM Modi co-launched the International Solar Alliance with French President Hollande
India announced ambitious 175 GW renewable energy target by 2022
Emphasized climate justice and differentiated responsibilities
Pushed for technology transfer and climate finance from developed nations
Year confusion: COP21 was 2015, COP22 was 2016 in Marrakech
Location: Paris hosted COP21, not any other European city
Paris Agreement vs Protocol: Paris Agreement replaced Kyoto Protocol framework
International Climate Organizations
Environment
International Climate Organizations & Membership Patterns
UNFCCC has universal membership — all UN members participate
ISA has selective membership based on geography and solar potential
IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) has broad but voluntary membership
Membership Models
Climate organizations use different membership approaches — some are universal (all countries), others are selective (specific criteria), and some are voluntary coalitions. Understanding these patterns helps distinguish between global frameworks and niche initiatives.
Climate Organization Comparison
Organization | Membership | Focus | Headquarters |
|---|---|---|---|
UNFCCC | All UN members (universal) | Overall climate action | Bonn, Germany |
International Solar Alliance | Tropical countries (selective) | Solar energy deployment | Gurugram, India |
IRENA | 165+ countries (voluntary) | All renewable energy | Abu Dhabi, UAE |
Mission Innovation | 24+ countries (voluntary) | Clean energy R&D | No fixed HQ |
Green Climate Fund | All UN members (universal) | Climate finance | Songdo, South Korea |
India's Participation
UNFCCC: Founding member, active in climate negotiations since 1992
ISA: Co-founder with France, hosts the headquarters
IRENA: Member since 2009, promotes renewable energy globally
Mission Innovation: Founding member, committed to doubling clean energy R&D
Universal vs Selective: Don't assume all 'international' climate bodies include every country
UNFCCC vs ISA: UNFCCC is universal, ISA is geography-based
Headquarters confusion: ISA in India, UNFCCC in Germany, IRENA in UAE