Macron and Modi kick start International Solar Alliance

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) began its first summit in New Delhi on Sunday with co-hosts France and India stressing the need for concrete action in the areas of innovative financing and technology.The ISA is an inter-governmental organisation that aims to help sunshine-rich countries around the world harness solar energy at an affordable cost. Launched on November 30, 2015, on the sidelines of the Paris Climate Change conference, the alliance currently has a goal of enabling production of 1 trillion watts of solar power by 2030.So far 61 countries have signed up and another 32 have ratified the treaty. Heads of states of 24 countries including Australia and Sri Lanka are attending the two-day founding summit.French President Emmanuel Macron, delivering the inaugural address, called on private industry and international financial institutions to become agents of change by pitching in.Macron said France's international development agency was committing an additional $700mn to solar energy by 2022, taking its total investment in financing solar projects in ISA member countries to $1bn.Indian Prime Minister Modi flagged the need for investment in better and more accessible solar technology, concessionary finance for solar projects and easing of regulatory mechanisms.Both leaders also mentioned a need to invest in skills development in the sector."Financing together, sharing expertise, innovative technology - along with total transparency at the top," was what the ISA was all about, Macron said.French President Emmanuel Macron meets with members of the "solar mamas" -- a group of rural solar engineers -- in New Delhi on Sunday. Modi -- who has committed to reducing India's sizeable carbon footprint through a massive scale-up in renewable energy -- said it was vital that nations were not priced out. "We have to make sure that a better and cost-effective solar technology is available to all," Modi told the gathering of investors and world leaders from about 20 mainly African nations."We will have to increase solar in our energy mix."India, the world's third-largest polluter, is undergoing spectacular growth in its solar sector and is on track to become one of the worldtarget="_blank"'>He and Modi will open a new 100 megawatt solar plant near the holy Indian city of Varanasi on Monday. The French leader will also visit the Taj Mahal in Agra later on Sunday.