Fiji at 1st Global Solar Meeting
The first assembly of the International Solar Alliance meeting in New Delhi from October 2-5, 2018 successfully established the foundation for a global solar agenda. The assembly also established the process for member countries to harness solar energy to achieve energy access at affordable rates.
Fiji as a founding member and one of the first 15 countries to ratify the ISA Framework Agreement, participated in the assembly hosted by the Government of India.
Fiji was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister, Yogesh Karan, who led the Fijian delegation to the Assembly.
Fiji, as the COP23 President, thanked the Government of India for its leadership and for steering the ISA on cooperation for renewable energy which is the key to meeting the most ambitious target of the Paris Agreement.
The four-day event, organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of India, included the first assembly of the ISA, 2nd Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Renewable Energy Ministerial Meeting and the 2nd Global Renewable Energy Investment Meeting and Expo of more than 100 exhibitors from governments and the private sector from around the world. The three events were inaugurated by Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi in the presence of the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, and Secretary of State to the Minister for the Ecological and inclusive Transition, Government of France, Brune Poirson, who also co- chaired the Assembly.
In his address, Prime Minister Modi announced the target to generate 40 per cent of India’s total energy requirement in 2030 by nonfossil fuel-based sources which India is developing with the intent of “Poverty to Power”.
Mr Modi highlighted India’s commitment to renewable energy and emphasised that if the dream of “One World, One Sun and One Grid” is followed, uninterrupted power supply can be ensured.
The Assembly, as the decision-making body of ISA, elected the interim Director General Upendra Tripathy to the position.
ISA member countries, who unanimously voted for Mr Tripathy, expressed their support to India’s commitment to the alliance.
One of the significant decisions made at the assembly was the agreement for ISA to apply for observer status at the UN General Assembly in line with the recognition that ISA is a multilateral platform for cooperation for renewable energy and climate action.
The secretariat presented the financial report, the focus of the ISA programmes and the various guidance member countries would require from the assembly. The assembly has called for the establishment of four committees: Regional Committees, General and Legal Committee, Finance Committee and Programme Committee.
One of the objectives of ISA is to mobilise over US$1 trillion (FJ$2.16 trillion) investment by 2030, into the solar sector and deploying over 1000 gigawatts of solar capacity in its 121-member nations. The meeting concluded with the delivery of country statements.