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The UN grants observer status to the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in order to offer a progressive move towards equitable energy solutions to the world.

About International Solar Alliance:

• The ISA was conceived as a joint effort by India and France to mobilize efforts against climate
  change through the deployment of solar energy solutions.
• It was conceptualized on the side lines of the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United
  Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Paris in 2015. With the
  amendment of its Framework Agreement in 2020, all member states of the United Nations are now eligible to join the ISA.
• At present, 101 countries are signatories to the ISA Framework Agreement, of which 80 countries have signed and ratified it.
• The programme aims to focus on countries categorised as Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and the Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
• The organisation is guided by its ‘Towards 1000’ strategy, which aims to mobilise $1,000 billion of investments in solar energy solutions by 2030.
• It also eyes to deliver energy access to 1,000 million people using clean energy and instal 1,000 GW of solar energy capacity.

Importance

• The observer status to the futuristic ISA will be a stepping stone towards the One Sun One World One Grid which will help bring equitable energy solutions to the world.
• It will pave the way for well-defined cooperation between the Alliance and the United Nations that would benefit global energy growth and development.
• This would also help in achieving the goal of net-zero carbon emissions through global co-operations.