New Delhi: India will continue to engage with member countries of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), even after the United States announced its withdrawal from the organisation on Thursday. The ISA is one of 66 international entities from which the US has decided to pull out, the government noted.
A senior official said the ISA, representing 125 member countries, remains focused on its mission to help countries collectively tackle challenges in scaling up solar energy to achieve universal energy access. The organisation will continue supporting member nations, particularly Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, in solar energy development and deployment, mobilising finance, building capacity, and reducing risk perceptions.
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday suspending American support for 66 international organisations, agencies, and commissions, following a review of participation and funding, including bodies affiliated with the United Nations, according to a White House statement.
The Trump administration has distanced itself from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and other climate-focused organisations. Experts say the US withdrawal is a major setback in the global fight against climate change, given that the country is both the world’s largest economy and largest polluter.
The UNFCCC, established in 1992, is the treaty underpinning the Paris Climate Agreement and financially supports climate action in developing countries. Trump has repeatedly referred to climate change as “a hoax” and advocates increased fossil fuel production, including oil.
Other international bodies affected by the US withdrawal include the Carbon Free Energy Compact, the United Nations University, the International Cotton Advisory Committee, the International Tropical Timber Organisation, the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation, the Pan-American Institute for Geography and History, the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies, and the International Lead and Zinc Study Group.
The US has also withdrawn from the UN Population Fund, which provides sexual and reproductive health services worldwide, accusing it of involvement in “coercive abortion practices” in countries such as China.
With IANS inputs