India Reaffirms Commitment To International Solar Alliance After US Withdrawal

India will continue to work closely with member countries of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) despite the United States announcing its withdrawal from the grouping, one of the 66 international organisations it decided to exit, the government said on Thursday.

A senior official said the government has taken note of media reports citing the US withdrawal from 66 international organisations, including the International Solar Alliance, which currently represents 125 member countries.

The official underlined that the ISA remains focused on its core objective of supporting member countries in collectively addressing key challenges related to scaling up solar energy, in line with national needs, with the aim of achieving universal energy access.

According to the official, the ISA will continue to work with member countries, particularly Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, to support the development and deployment of solar energy. This includes mobilising finance, building capacity and reducing risk perceptions associated with solar projects.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order suspending US support for 66 organisations, agencies and commissions, following his administration’s review of participation in and funding for all international organisations, including those affiliated with the United Nations, a White House press statement said.

The Trump administration has also distanced itself from the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and other organisations and agencies focused on climate and addressing climate change.

US Exit Is A Major Setback In Fight Against Climate Change

Experts have described the US decision as a major setback in the global fight against climate change, noting that the country is both the largest polluter and the world’s biggest economy.

UNFCCC, the 1992 agreement among 198 countries to financially support climate change activities in developing nations, serves as the underlying treaty for the landmark Paris climate agreement. Trump is known to call climate change “a hoax” and has advocated increased production of fossil fuels such as oil.

Other organisations and agencies that the US will quit include the Carbon Free Energy Compact, the United Nations University, the International Cotton Advisory Committee, the International Tropical Timber Organisation, the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation, the Pan-American Institute for Geography and History, the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies, and the International Lead and Zinc Study Group.

The Trump administration has also withdrawn from the UN Population Fund, the agency that provides sexual and reproductive health services worldwide. Trump has accused the agency of participating in “coercive abortion practices” in countries like China.

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