The first summit of the International Solar Alliance took place at Delhi last Sunday (11th March). It was co-hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind and French President Emmanuel Macron. The idea of such an alliance was floated by Prime Minister Shri Modi in a speech in November 2015 at Wembley Stadium. The aim of the 121 member countries in the tropical region is to research, promote and implement solar energy infrastructure.
France is the only advanced and wealthy country which has supported the alliance and announced almost a billion dollars of investment. We hear a lot of bellicose noises from other wealthy countries about climate change and consequent danger to life on earth. Why aren’t they supporting this pertinent, noble and important alliance of the developing countries? They are pumping billions of tons of poisonous gases in the atmosphere under their agenda of material progress. Do they know there are billions of people in villages and towns in this region who are suffering without electricity in their houses and hospitals?
It is in the interest of every country to support the advancement of solar projects (mainly in financing) of tropical areas where sun energy is intensive and available for a longer period and hence economical. This effort will not only reduce overall carbon emission in our mother earth’s atmosphere but also help the humanity in those less developed countries to advance.
Narsibhai Patel
New Malden
