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UPSC Prelims 2016 · Environment · Rules for the Planet
Consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015.
- The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations.
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (a) 1 only
Launched at COP21; not all UN members are in it.
Statement by statement
1. ✓ CORRECT India and France launched the ISA at COP21 in Paris, 2015.
2. ✗ WRONG At first it was for countries between the tropics; membership has since opened to all UN members, but not all have joined.
The idea
Countries between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn get the most sunshine but many of them lack money and technology. The alliance pools their demand so that solar equipment and loans become cheaper for all of them.
Launched by India and France at COP21, Paris, 2015 → Framework Agreement in force, December 2017 → At first open to countries between the tropics → 2020 amendment: open to all UN members → A country is a member only after it signs and ratifies
The trap
“All member countries” is the absolute word to check.
Elimination technique
Statement 2 says the Alliance includes “all the member countries”. Absolute words such as all, only and cannot usually mark the false statement in Environment PYQs. That removes (b) and (c).
Also know
Head office: Gurugram, Haryana. It is the first treaty-based international organisation with its head office in India. Its aim is to mobilise 1,000 billion dollars of solar investment by 2030. The “One Sun, One World, One Grid” idea for linking solar power across countries is promoted by India along with the alliance.
🔒 ISA: launched COP21 (2015), HQ Gurugram; first treaty-based body headquartered in India.