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Paris : Monday today will mark as a day of new page in the history of India-France collaborative efforts in the field of solar energy, as French President Francois Hollande and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch an international solar alliance aimed at eventually bringing clean and affordable solar energy within the reach of all. The launch is scheduled to coincide and interweave with a summit of world leaders at the start of two weeks of talks. The event to commence in the outskirts of Paris aims to seek a new global deal on curbing climate change, with a special eye of focus on natural avenues and attempt to shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy with support from nature’s plentifulness.

India is keen to make the most of this summit in terms of actively participating along with co-countries and strengthening energy buffers by promoting intensive solar and other renewable sources within the country. An Indian government statement on Sunday said there were well over 100 solar-rich countries in the tropics that could be members of the International Solar Alliance to develop clean and affordable solar energy, and Indian certainly is keen to feature among the top list of the participants. It said — Solar energy is a practical and efficient way to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions.

The erstwhile 2009 Copenhagen Summit did not convert into effective results and had cast an unsuccessful shadow of failure in the minds of participating countries. Hence, viewing this Paris Summit as a bundle of hope and expecting to attempt reaching a global climate deal, United Nations is placing as much weight on the efforts of individual governments as on an overarching UN agreement.

The participating countries too have shown keenness and a majority of them, more than 180 nations, to be precise, have submitted their home-made national action plans, keeping in mind their own country-requirements, as well as their contribution towards a global cause. The efforts are genuine, the plans are in place, but the target of achievement — a goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times — seems a far cry, not impossible though, but a step by step trickle down result which can be anticipated, does put the scientific minds at unrest, for want of stronger commitments and faster reprise. Scientists opine that the cap (2 degrees Celsius) is the bare minimum goal, achieving which is critically essential to prevent the most devastating consequences of global warming.

India’s national plan focuses on solar energy, and, based on the climate of the country as a whole, India aims to achieve solar energy expansion, and believes the renewable energy platform in India would grow significantly in the times to come. Not leaving it to words, the target has been laid down in digits — India’s aim to reach a capacity of 100 gigawatts by 2022, and this target is under constant escalation over regular time period, to be scaled up further in future.

Firms such as Tata Power have already diversified long back into renewable energy resources and invested heavily in solar as a reliable source of power, and are optimistic of bringing lights into remote areas, across the board of income group, with a special objective to deliver power to some of India’s poorest people.