Pradeep Suresh V

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The founding ceremony of International Solar Alliance (ISA) was held in Delhi on Sunday. The organization that intends to ensure global co-operation to develop renewable energy use can also be a stage to improve India’s global status using its soft power.

Initially launched at Paris during the UN Climate Change Conference in 2015 by Narendra Modi and the then French President Francois Hollande, the ISA aims to fight climatic change by developing the use of renewable energy. While it primarily includes countries that lie between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn that are gifted with abundant solar energy, it also allows other countries to be a part of the group without voting rights.

The ISA’s framework agreement has been signed already by nearly 60 countries out of the 121 countries that the group intends to cater. Sunday’s ceremony that was inaugurated by Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron is seen as a stepping stone for massive global projects that could revolutionize global energy use.

As per a report in The Indian Express, ISA has an objective to create solar energy amounting to 1 TW by 2030. In addition, the organization also work together to address various challenges that will come up in developing renewable solar energy as a key source of energy.

However what makes the ISA more significant is the leadership role that India enjoys alongside the French. While latter’s economic power will be crucial for ISA’s success, the influence India enjoys could be assessed by the fact that ISA’s headquarters will be situated in India.

The organization that focuses primarily on Asia, Africa and Latin America could aid in India’s attempt to build influence in the region. While, as per The Economic Times report India has pledged financial support worth close to $1400 million towards Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Africa the fact remains that it will not be able to match the financial clout of China.

So the Indian plan to counter aggressive Chinese influence backed by heavy financial baits seem to be to project its ‘soft power’ status in the third world region by allying itself with nations such as France that could help India’s ventures with financial support.

India has already made tie ups with Japan in its projects aimed at Africa. Similarly relations with ASEAN and the interest towards Indo-Pacific alliance seem to have similar objectives. Ultimately the success of ISA in its objective could not just propel an energy revolution but above that can increase India’s influence and reputation as a responsible global power.