International Solar Alliance (ISA) ( UPSC Prelims)

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News Context

Mauritius has become the first African nation to sign the ISA's CPF (Country Partnership Framework). Additionally, the 8th Session of the ISA Assembly took place in New Delhi.

Key highlights of the Session

 ● Launch of SUNRISE (Solar Upcycling Network for Recycling, Innovation & Stakeholder Engagement): A global initiative focused on circularity and end-of-life (EoL) management of solar PV and batteries.  
  ● Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Procurement MoU: Signed by 16 SIDS under the ISA-World Bank platform.  
      ○ Released ISA’s flagship reports: Ease of Doing Solar 2025; Solar Trends 2025.
      ○ Other: Global Capability Centre unveiled to establish a Silicon Valley for Solar in India, and the ISA Academy (an AI-based online learning platform) was launched.

International Solar Alliance (ISA)

Treaty-based intergovernmental organization focused on promoting solar energy as a sustainable solution for energy access and addressing climate change.
 Genesis: Initiated in 2015 by India and France during the COP21 of the UNFCCC summit in Paris.
 Member Countries: As of March 2025, 104 countries have signed and ratified the Agreement. Following a 2020 amendment to its Framework Agreement, all UN members are now eligible to join.
 Mission: Driven by the Towards 1000 strategy, which aims to:
      ○ Mobilize USD 1,000 billion in investments for solar energy solutions by 2030.
      ○ Provide energy access to 1,000 million people using clean energy solutions.
      ○ Install 1,000 GW of solar energy capacity.
      ○ Reduce global solar emissions by approximately 1,000 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
 Initiatives by the ISA include: SolarX Startup Challenge; STAR-C Initiative; Global Solar Facility; Green Hydrogen Innovation Centre; One Sun, One World, One Grid, among others.