Climate Justice and International Solar Alliance

Climate change in the 21^st century is a matter of grave concern, not only for the developing nations but also for developed nations. The most visible signs of changing climate are the melting glaciers, higher frequency and intensity of hurricanes and cyclones as well as droughts in different parts of the world etc. Climate change doesn’t affect one nation. Rather, humanity as a whole is responsible for bringing it about as well as aggravating it with every passing moment. There is an irony to this entire situation- that is the developing countries are solely blamed for bringing about climate change. In reality, however it’s the developed countries that share a higher burden in the historical level of greenhouse gas production because of their unprecedented levels of economic activity that has made them stand at the highest pedestal of standard of living and per capital income.

In the recent climate change negotiations, Common But Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR), a principle of international environmental law, has been reflected. CBDR means that the countries have to share the burden to address the climate change as per their historical contribution to climate degradation and their respective capacity and technological advancement.Rio Declaration brought forth this principle of CBDR, which has found place in the text of Paris Conference COP 21 in 2015. It was agreed that all the countries will together pursue efforts to keep the temperature rise upto 2 degree Celsius above the pre-industrial levels by 2100.

International Solar Alliance or ISA, a coalition of 121 countries lying between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, has been conceived by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a culmination of efforts by the developing bloc to fight climate change. These are the countries with 300 solar days and spans regions of North and South America, Africa, Asia, Australia. ISA seeks to harness solar energy by helping in formulation of supportive policies, development of solar capacities and technological support. Thus, ISA seeks to provide Climate Justice to its member nations. The premise of climate justice is based on the fact that those who are least responsible for climate change suffers its gravest consequences and this needs to be addressed.Whenever the planet faces adverse changes in climate, it is the least privileged and most vulnerable who are affected the most and suffer the greatest damage, and these are the people who have contributed minimally to climate change. ISA seeks to address this injustice through rapid reduction in burning of fossil fuels to meet human needs and replace it with cleaner source of solar energy.

If ISA stands by its objectives, then it would be able to provide climate justice to the member countries and their individuals by replacing fossil fuels with clean energy. That's how the burden of more emissions would be removed from developing nations, and poor and vulnerable citizens of these countries would not have to suffer from adversities of climate change. However, there is a caveat as well- ISA must not shift its focus from individuals of countries to industries of the countries.