US set to exit International Solar Alliance; 125-member bloc reaffirms commitment

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) will continue to remain focused on supporting its member countries and advancing the global adoption of solar energy amid media reports on the United States’ withdrawal

from the alliance, government sources said.

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India has taken note of reports stating that the US has withdrawn from 66 international organisations, including the ISA. The sources added that the India-promoted ISA currently has 125 member and signatory countries and remains committed to its core objectives.

The alliance aims to address common challenges faced by countries in scaling up solar energy deployment, with the broader objective of achieving universal energy access through solar power.

ISA will continue its engagement with member countries, with a particular focus on least developed countries and small island developing states, the government sources said. The alliance will support solar deployment efforts, mobilise finance, build capacity and work towards reducing risks associated with solar energy projects.

US President Donald Trump has directed the United States to withdraw from 66 international organisations, including key United Nations agencies, marking a significant step back from multilateral cooperation, as per reports. The executive order, signed on Wednesday, January 7, instructs US departments to end participation in and funding for 31 UN entities and 35 non-UN organisations “as soon as possible,” according to the White House.

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The organisations affected cover areas such as climate change, conservation, counterterrorism, and human rights. Among the UN-affiliated bodies listed for withdrawal are the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), UN Women, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UNCTAD, UN-Habitat, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and offices addressing children in armed conflict and sexual violence in conflict.

In addition, the US is reportedly set to exit 35 other international bodies, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the International Solar Alliance (ISA), as well as organisations focused on regional security, counterterrorism, and scientific and technical cooperation.