New Delhi. India’s International Solar Alliance has suffered a major setback. US President Donald Trump has decided to withdraw America from this organization. This step of the Trump administration is not only a challenge to global climate goals, but is also going to create a rift in the strong relations built between India and America over the last three decades.
According to media reports, Trump has issued a major executive order and announced his withdrawal from the International Solar Alliance promoted by India. This decision is part of Trump’s broader policy, under which America is breaking ties with those international organizations which it considers against its national interests and sovereignty. Sources believe that India says that wherever America wants to go, this alliance will remain intact. Its removal will not make any difference.
Let us tell you that this organization was started by PM Modi and the then President of France François Hollande during the Paris Climate Summit in 2015. Its main headquarters is in Gurugram, India. Its goal is to garner investment of $1 trillion in solar energy by 2030. Also providing affordable solar technology and finance to developing countries so that they can meet their energy needs without increasing pollution.
Former US climate envoy John Kerry has called this step of the Trump administration a self-inflicted wound. He said that this decision is not a surprise, but it is like a gift to China. This will give exemption to those countries and polluting forces who want to avoid their responsibility. The US has withdrawn from 31 UN entities and 35 non-UN intergovernmental organizations, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Trade Center, and the Global Counterterrorism Forum. According to a White House fact sheet, these organizations, conventions and treaties work contrary to US national interests, security, economic prosperity or sovereignty.
According to experts, America’s exclusion is not only bad for the climate, but is also harmful for the American economy. America will miss out on the trillions of dollars of investment and employment opportunities that the clean energy sector will bring. America will no longer have any role in writing global rules for solar technology, which will increase the dominance of other countries, especially China. This is a big diplomatic challenge for India because ISA is a dream project of PM Modi. Now India will have to find new avenues of funding and technology in collaboration with France and other member countries.
