Solar Alliance: Modi for convergence of economy, ecology and energy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday made an ambitious pitch for solar energy at the climate change summit, saying ''the convergence between economy, ecology and energy must define our future.''

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of France, Mr. Francois Hollande at launch of the International Solar Alliance, during the COP21 Summit, in Paris, France on November 30, 2015.

"This day is the sunrise of new hope - not just for clean energy, but for villages and homes still in darkness," Modi said as he called the alliance his "long-cherished dream".

"India has capacity of 4GW and we have set a target of adding 100 GW of solar power by 2022," Modi said. "In the Indian tradition, sun is the source of all forms of energy. Since ancient times, different civilizations have given a special place to sun," he said.

Speaking after the formal announcement of a global alliance of 122 countries lying between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn to collectively harness the power of the sun, Modi also pledged $30 million for the initiative said India will host the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in the premises of its National Institute of Solar Energy, based in Gurgaon.

"We will support operations for five years and together, we will raise long-term funds to achieve our goals," Modi said.

At another event on `Mission Innovation' hosted by US President Barack Obama, Modi called for a global partnership to being clean energy to the reach of all people. "We must come together in a partnership to bring clean energy within the reach of all," Modi said.

"Mission Innovation", launched by Obama and French President Francois Hollande on Sunday, is an initiative to dramatically accelerate public and private global energy innovation to address global climate change, provide affordable clean energy to consumers, including in the developing world and create commercial opportunities in clean energy.

"This partnership will combine the responsibility of government with the innovative capacity of the private sector," Modi said.

He said that access to energy and a better life was a universal aspiration just as clean environment and healthy habitats were. "We will restore the balance between ecology and economy, and between our inheritance and obligation to the future," the prime minister said.