Introduction
Climate change can be described as the greatest threat facing human civilisation in a millennium. Effects of climate change range from the rise in sea level to a change in weather patterns[i]. The disaster patterns are significantly changing with more severe storms, cyclones and increasing intensity of droughts causing havoc to Human lives. Being a developing country, India has been one of the worst takers of these effects. According to Christian Aid, more lives were lost in India than in any other country in 2020 due to climate-related disasters[ii]. The change in weather patterns affects Indian agriculture, which might culminate in a severe food crisis due to a lack of enough production of food grains. The increasing temperature and melting of snow-capped Himalayas will have disastrous effects on India’s perennial rivers, which are the lifeline of millions of people in India[iii].
Despite having less than half of Global per capita emissions, India still accounts for the third largest emitter of Greenhouse Gases[iv]. It has always been a strong voice in the Global south when it came to global climate change negotiations. These countries of the developing and underdeveloped world are the worst takers of global warming due to historical emissions from the developed countries of the Global North. It was thus the joint efforts of India and other major developing countries that “Common But Differentiated Responsibility” was accepted as part of the Kyoto Protocol[v].
India’s Climate Leadership in Global South: ISA and CDRI
However, in the coming years, as India became more economically confident, its attitude towards global climate change negotiations has begun to change. There came a realisation that without a concrete reduction in emissions from countries like India, it would be impossible to achieve the goal of Net zero emissions in future to prevent further rise in the global temperature. Thus, on the sideline of CoP 21 in Paris, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and his French counterpart Francois Hollande, launched the International Solar Alliance on November 30. 2015[vi]. On its part, the initiative was motivated by the absence of any international body that specifically deals with the Global efforts for Solar energy.
ISA was the first instance when India took the effort for the formation of a treaty-based organisation with the backing of the countries from Asia and Africa. The framework of ISA came into force on December 6 2017. Initially, it was only for countries of the Tropics, but with a 2020 Amendment, it became open for all the UN member states. ISA aims to mobilise more than 1 trillion USD of investment by 2030 to create the necessary infrastructure to generate 1000 GW of solar energy[vii]. It also aims to lower solar energy prices by aggregating various factors like demand, technology, finance, research, and capacity building. Headquartered in Gurugram, it presently has 103 member states[viii].
Further, in 2019, India also spearheaded the establishment of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. Launched during the New York Climate Summit, it aims to promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure for mitigating the effects of disasters intensified due to climate change. The organisation tends to act as a platform bringing together countries that are the worst affected and the most equipped to deal with climate-resilient infrastructure. It has taken initiatives like Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS). The scheme launched during CoP 26 in Glasgow aims to provide the necessary technical support to small island countries like Fiji and Mauritius in the development of disaster-resilient infrastructure[ix]. CDRI is the second international organisation to be headquartered in India. It has 31 member countries, 6 international organisations and 2 private sector entities[x].
Prospects and Challenges to India’s Growing Role in Sustainability
In recent years there has been a growing recognition in India that its national interests are very much aligned with Climate change mitigation efforts. In 2019-20, two-thirds of India’s energy generation capacity has come from renewable energy sources[xi]. Solar energy consists of more than half of it. With Narendra Modi’s government coming to power in India, this approach has taken a more proactive turn. The government has pledged to establish about 500 GW of energy from non-fossil fuel sources, with Solar energy contributing about 80% of the share[xii]. Thus, ISA will play an instrumental role in international collaboration and meeting its domestic energy targets. However, there are significant challenges before India concerning its global leadership in sustainability. The target of 1Trillion USD financing for Solar projects by 2030 is still a distant dream[xiii]. So far, India has been the only country that has provided some concrete financial support to ISA in its mission to African countries, which itself is highly inadequate. India’s own technological, economic, and manufacturing capabilities are still not up to the mark in achieving the required results.
But the recent inclusion of like-minded countries like the USA and Saudi Arabia might turn the tide for the better in the coming days. These countries share a strong relationship with India and collectively partner at other important forums. The USA and Saudi Arabia will thus be able to provide ISA with the required technological and financial capital.
The establishment of the International Solar Alliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure is evident in the growing role of India as a leader in global efforts to make a more sustainable world. This effort also tends to provide a significant geopolitical benefit. The International Solar Alliance can foster India’s increasing cooperation with the African countries, further boosting its soft power in the region. As India has pitched for hosting the CoP 33 in 2028, the success of ISA and CDRI can provide India with a much-required leadership as its profile in the polity of nations keeps growing.
[i]United Nations. (2024). What is climate change?. United Nations. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change
[ii] Suckling, P. (2021). “Catalysing India’s Climate Ambition”, [Online: Web] Accessed on 29th Oct. 2024. URL: https://asiasociety.org/sites/default/files/2021 06/Catalyzing%20Indias%20Climate%20Ambition.pdf
[iii] World Bank Group. (2023, March 31). India: Climate change impacts. World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/06/19/india-climate-change-impacts
[iv] PTI (2023, December 5). India’s per capita emissions less than half of global average in 2022: Report. Deccan Herald. https://www.deccanherald.com/environment/indias-per-capita-emissions-less-than-half-of-global-average-in-2022-report-2797537
[v] Bhardwaj, M. (n.d.). On the importance of climate justice – connect4climate. https://www.connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/files/publications/Climate%20Justice_Manuj%20Bhardwaj%20India_0.pdf
[vi] Ananthakrishnan, G. (2021, November 16). Modi launches International Solar Alliance. The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/Modi-launches-International-Solar-Alliance/article60297081.ece
[vii]International Solar Alliance: Ministry of new and renewable energy: India. MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY | India. (n.d.). https://mnre.gov.in/international-solar-alliance/#:~:text=Established%20by%20Prime%20Minister%20Narendra,and%20development%2C%20and%20capacity%20building.
[viii] International Solar Alliance. (2024). Programmes. https://isa.int/programmes
[ix]Sablok, A. (2023, September 14). Examining the Role of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). Indian Council of World Affairs. https://www.icwa.in/show_content.php?lang=1&level=3&ls_id=9924&lid=6344
[x]Members. Coalition for disaster resilient infrastructure. (2024). https://www.cdri.world/members
[xi] Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, “Why India’s Solar Power Tariffs Reached a Historic Low
[xii]Meeting 2030 renewable energy target may push India’s solar equipment imports to $30 Bn/yr, says GTRI. The Economic Times. (2024, October 20). https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/renewables/meeting-2030-renewable-energy-target-may-push-indias-solar-equipment-imports-to-30-bn/yr-says-gtri/articleshow/114394611.cms?from=mdr
[xiii] Jha, V. (2023, November 3). International Solar Alliance: Bridging the gap. CSEP. https://csep.org/reports/international-solar-alliance-bridging-the-gap/
[1]United Nations. (2024). What is climate change?. United Nations. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change
[1] Suckling, P. (2021). “Catalysing India’s Climate Ambition”, [Online: Web] Accessed on 29th Oct. 2024. URL: https://asiasociety.org/sites/default/files/2021 06/Catalyzing%20Indias%20Climate%20Ambition.pdf
[1] World Bank Group. (2023, March 31). India: Climate change impacts. World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/06/19/india-climate-change-impacts
[1] PTI (2023, December 5). India’s per capita emissions less than half of global average in 2022: Report. Deccan Herald. https://www.deccanherald.com/environment/indias-per-capita-emissions-less-than-half-of-global-average-in-2022-report-2797537
[1] Bhardwaj, M. (n.d.). On the importance of climate justice – connect4climate. https://www.connect4climate.org/sites/default/files/files/publications/Climate%20Justice_Manuj%20Bhardwaj%20India_0.pdf
[1] Ananthakrishnan, G. (2021, November 16). Modi launches International Solar Alliance. The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/Modi-launches-International-Solar-Alliance/article60297081.ece
[1]International Solar Alliance: Ministry of new and renewable energy: India. MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY | India. (n.d.). https://mnre.gov.in/international-solar-alliance/#:~:text=Established%20by%20Prime%20Minister%20Narendra,and%20development%2C%20and%20capacity%20building.
[1] International Solar Alliance. (2024). Programmes. https://isa.int/programmes
[1]Sablok, A. (2023, September 14). Examining the Role of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). Indian Council of World Affairs. https://www.icwa.in/show_content.php?lang=1&level=3&ls_id=9924&lid=6344
[1]Members. Coalition for disaster resilient infrastructure. (2024). https://www.cdri.world/members
[1] Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, “Why India’s Solar Power Tariffs Reached a Historic Low
[1]Meeting 2030 renewable energy target may push India’s solar equipment imports to $30 Bn/yr, says GTRI. The Economic Times. (2024, October 20). https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/renewables/meeting-2030-renewable-energy-target-may-push-indias-solar-equipment-imports-to-30-bn/yr-says-gtri/articleshow/114394611.cms?from=mdr
[1] Jha, V. (2023, November 3). International Solar Alliance: Bridging the gap. CSEP. https://csep.org/reports/international-solar-alliance-bridging-the-gap/
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