World leaders launched an ambitious attempt on Monday to hold back the earth's rising temperatures, with the United States and China urging the climate summit in Paris to mark a decisive turn in the fight against global warming.
In a series of opening addresses to the U.N. talks, heads of state and government exhorted each other to find common cause in two weeks of bargaining to steer the global economy away from its dependence on fossil fuels. French President Francois Hollande said the world was at a "breaking point".
The leaders arrived in Paris with high expectations and armed with promises to act. After decades of struggling negotiations and the failure of a summit in Copenhagen six years ago, some form of agreement -- likely to be the strongest global climate pact yet -- appears all but assured by mid-December.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with French President Francois Hollande today jointly launched the International Solar Alliance and pledged India's assistance of USD 30 million for the initiative that brings together developed and developing countries.
Modi also announced that India will host the initiative in the premises of the National Institute of Solar Energy in Gurgaon, Haryana.
He said that India will provide land and contribute about USD 30 million to build the Secretariat infrastructure of the initiative and support its operation for the next five years.
"This is an alliance that brings together developed and developing countries, governments and industries, laboratories and institutions in a common enterprise," Modi said at the launch of the International Solar Alliance. "This day is the sunrise of new hope - not just for clean energy, but for villages and homes still in darkness; and for our mornings and evenings filled with a clear view of the glory of the sun," he said of the launch of the initiative supported by over 100 countries.
