Time Diplomacy: Charting a Fresh Course to Implement Solar Technology

Abstract

Recent scientific reports on climate change highlight the potential for adverse consequences to humanity due to the ‘carbonisation’ of the atmosphere, a global common. Accordingly, at international meetings to address the problem of global commons, diplomacy seeks energy transition, especially by increasing the share of renewable energy. However, the need of the hour is energy transition through nationally determined contributions (NDC) within a short period of time. To achieve this goal, we propose a framework that relies on Track-III diplomacy, and we explicate the argument by using the example of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) that was launched by India and France at the CoP meeting held in Paris. We conclude that to spur the growth of solar technology, there is a need for diplomacy to expand its array of efforts, beyond Track-I and Track-II diplomacy, by creating avenues for the direct involvement of people in the implementation of the agenda for climate change.