By Steven Nsamaza
President Paul Kagame on Sunday called on countries to utilize the solar power to overcome energy challenges while combating climate change.
Kagame noted that solar power is the answer to climate change during the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Founding Summit that took place in New Delhi, co-hosted by India and France.
“The sunniest countries on Earth should not lack for energy. The fact that they do is an unacceptable irony. It is therefore fitting that more than half of countries that have signed and ratified the International Solar Alliance treaty are African. We are not just protecting the environment; we are protecting people and their well-being,” the President said.
However, he added that solar power will not address all of Africa’s energy needs. “What is important, is that we continue to work together through this new institution and beyond, to put our collective resources and knowledge at the disposal of our planet’s future.”
About 20 Heads of State and Governments, senior representatives from Africa and island states attend the one-day Summit.
ISA is a treaty-based international inter-governmental alliance of 121 solar resource rich countries collaborating to achieve speed, scale and skills for deploying available solar technologies.
