Consider the following statements: 1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015. 2. The Alliance includes all the member countries of the United Nations. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was launched by India and France on November 30, 2015, during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21) in Paris. The primary aim of ISA is to promote solar energy deployment, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and support sustainable energy solutions, particularly in developing countries.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Initially, ISA was open only to 121 solar-rich countries located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn (the "Sun Belt"), as these regions receive abundant solar radiation throughout the year.
*However, in 2018, ISA expanded its membership to include all UN member states, allowing countries beyond the tropics to join and benefit from solar energy initiatives. This change made ISA a more inclusive global platform for promoting solar energy adoption worldwide.*