30 November 2015: The International Solar Energy Alliance, initiated by the Governments of India and France at the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the UNFCCC, has garnered the support of 120 countries. Among other commitments, the supporting countries express their intention to collectively mobilize more than US$1000 billion by 2030 to scale up solar energy deployment.

Presented at a special event during the opening day of COP 21 by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President François Hollande, the launch “Declaration” establishes the Alliance as a platform for cooperation among countries rich in solar resources. The Declaration states that countries will seek to undertake innovative and concerted efforts to reduce the cost of solar technology and financing to support immediate deployment of solar generation and energy storage. It also expresses the supporting countries’ shared objective to significantly augment solar power generation in their territories through policies, projects, capacity building, and by collectively mobilizing more than “US$1000 billion” in investments by 2030 for the massive deployment of affordable solar energy.

Countries supporting the Declaration also agree to cooperate in research and development and to establish an international steering committee to provide guidance, direction and advice to the Alliance. [UNFCCC Press Release] [UNFCCC Webscast of Launch Event] [French Presidency Press Communiqué (in French)] [IISD RS Coverage of UNFCCC COP 21]