Dr Mathur, along with Ms Nehwal and Ms Sana, unveiled the festival’s logo and a short curtain raiser film, before commencing a discussion on the theme of ‘Building a Solar Future Together’.

Speaking on gender inclusivity and community building for sustainable development, Ms Nehwal said, “The solar energy transition must engage, involve and empower women to build stronger, more resilient communities and ensure the benefits of clean energy reach everyone. As we prepare for a challenging climate future, we need to consider the long-term impact on rural women everywhere. We must also make clean energy a topic of conversation among our youth, inspiring responsible choices for generations to come.”

Ms Sana said, “By educating youth on how to drive the solar energy transition through innovation, advocacy, and entrepreneurship, we can unlock their tremendous potential. This is what the International Solar Festival, with its vision of collaboration and partnership between youth-led initiatives, academia, industry, community, and policy, aims to achieve. Together, we can co-create a future that is good for the planet, people, and prosperity.”

At the International Solar Festival, these four core themes –the role of youth, communities, women, and the private sector - will unite stakeholders from around the globe. Businesses, academia, youth and community leaders, among others, will share knowledge, foster innovation, and build international cooperation towards building a solar-powered future. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the festival will strengthen support for innovative financing, technology deployment, capacity building, and technical assistance. It will create conducive conditions for impactful global partnerships and accelerate the transition towards a sustainable, solar-powered future.

The festival will include:

• Participation of ISA member countries and their leaders
• Keynote sessions featuring global climate leaders
• Plenary and technical sessions helmed by industry and global leaders
• CEO Caucus Roundtable to explore innovative ?nancial and technological levers to accelerate solar adoption
• Innovation Showcase featuring pioneering solutions and entrepreneurs who are at the forefront of transforming the energy sector
• Exhibition booths and pavilions hosting organizations from across the solar and allied sectors
• Interaction and engagement with community groups, youth organizations and policymakers
• Activity Zone featuring cultural performances by renowned artists

About the International Solar Alliance

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) is a global intergovernmental organization dedicated to advancing solar power adoption for a carbon-neutral future. ISA’s mission is to unlock investments in solar while reducing the cost of technology and its financing. Serving as a platform for international cooperation, ISA assists member countries in solar deployment across various sectors through policy enactment, standardization, and investment mobilization. Through innovative business models, policy advisory, and financial risk reduction, ISA promotes affordable solar solutions and facilitates access to solar training, data and insights for solar engineers and energy policymakers. ISA is one of the first multilateral intergovernmental organization to be headquartered in India and is collaborating with multilateral organizations, public and private sectors, and civil society to deploy cost-effective and transformational solar solutions, particularly in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).