Armenia has become full member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
▪ Armenia has become the 104th full member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
Membership Details
▪ Armenia’s membership commenced on November 15, 2024.
▪ This followed the signing of the ISA agreement on November 16, 2023, in Yerevan, which was ratified by Armenia’s President.
▪ The ISA was established by India and France to combat climate change.
▪ The organization promotes solar energy as a sustainable solution.
Member Nations:
✓ A total of 106 countries have signed the ISA Framework Agreement.
✓ Out of 106 nations, 86 have signed and ratified the ISA Framework Agreement.
✓ All member states of the United Nations are eligible to join the ISA.
▪ The Headquarters is in India with its Interim Secretariat being set up in Gurugram.
▪ The ISA was conceived as a joint effort by India and France to mobilize efforts against climate change through deployment of solar energy solutions.
Benefits of Membership
▪ Joining the ISA allows Armenia access to resources and expertise in solar technology.
▪ It can enhance Armenia’s energy security.
▪ The membership supports Armenia’s commitment to renewable energy
Climate talks at Baku run into overtime
▪ Climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan, extended due to disagreements over the draft agreement.
▪ Developed countries proposed $250 billion by 2035 for climate finance, despite acknowledging a need for at least $700 billion by 2030 for developing countries.
▪ There was no commitment to disburse funds to developing countries on affordable terms, leading to criticism from several countries and civil society groups.
More than 50 Countries Sign UN Sustainable Tourism Declaration
▪ UN Declaration: Over 50 governments signed a U.N. declaration to make global tourism more climate-friendly.
▪ Climate Action Agenda: Tourism was included in the U.N. Climate Change Conference Action Agenda for the first time.
▪ Tourism Industry Impact: The tourism industry contributes about 3% to global GDP and 8.8% to total greenhouse gas emissions.
▪ Commitment to NDCs: Signatory countries will integrate tourism into their climate strategies, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), with updates due in February.
▪ Emerging Economies: Tourism is a vital source of foreign income for emerging nations but is vulnerable to climate-related events.
▪ Sustainability and Business Viability: Kanan Gasimov emphasized the link between sustainability and business viability in tourism.
▪ New Sustainability Initiatives: The World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance launched a framework to monitor environmental metrics like greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and energy consumption in hotels.
▪ Environmental Impact: Collecting and analyzing data will help the tourism sector and travelers understand their environmental impact.
▪ Industry Responsibility: Glenn Mandziuk stressed the responsibility of the tourism industry to protect the destinations they depend on
