Possible UN Observer Status to International Solar Alliance (ISA)

The UN may finally grant observer status to ISA, underscoring its importance in a warming world.

Possible UN Observer Status to International Solar Alliance (ISA)

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Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment

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• The story: Before the climate change summit in Glasgow, a draft resolution by India for granting the "Observer Status" to the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was adopted in a U.N. General Assembly committee. The 76th session of the UN General Assembly will now have to formally adopt recommendation of the Sixth Committee.
• The dynamics: India’s Permanent Mission to the U.N. said in a tweet that India walks the talk on climate action. India said that the adoption of the resolution will reflect the commitment and resolve of member states to the noble cause of renewable energy and "usher in a new era of green energy diplomacy”.

1. The decision will also enable ISA to provide targeted inputs to current and future United Nations processes based on grassroot level experiences from its country programmes, its research and public private cooperation activities and its global knowledge sharing activities.
2. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN (Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti) had introduced the draft resolution for granting the Observer Status for the International Solar Alliance on behalf of India and France and about 80 co-sponsors.
3. The co-sponsors include Algeria, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Oman, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
4. The United Nations General Assembly may grant Permanent Observer Status to non-member states, international organisations and other entities.

• What they do: The General Assembly decided that “observer status would be confined to states and intergovernmental organisations whose activities cover matters of interest to the Assembly.” The Sixth Committee of the General Assembly considers all applications for observer status before they are considered in the plenary session. Permanent Observers may participate in the sessions and workings of the General Assembly and maintain missions at the UN Headquarters.
• Which ones so far: Intergovernmental organisations having received a standing invitation to participate as Observers in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly include the EU, INTERPOL, International Renewable Energy Agency, OECD, ADB, ASEAN, Commonwealth of Independent States, European Organisation for Nuclear Research, Indian Ocean Rim Association, SCO, SAARC, International Committee of the Red Cross and International Olympic Committee.
• ISA's membership: The International Solar Alliance was opened for signature as an international treaty-based organisation in November 2016 and the agreement entered into force on December 6, 2017. The alliance of solar-resource rich countries with its membership was open to those 121 U.N. member states that lie fully or partially between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. This was further amended at the First Assembly of the ISA, to expand the scope of ISA membership to all U.N. member states.
• EXAM QUESTIONS: (1) Explain why India took the lead in setting up the I.S.A., alongwith France. (2) Is it practically feasible to have One Grid for the whole world, as per the OSOWOG project of ISA? Explain technically.

Read more on - Polity | Economy | Schemes | S&T | Environment

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