Lord David Alton cautioned that achieving net-zero targets would be challenging without relying on Chinese-made renewables, emphasizing the need for the government to support the local supply chain.
The peer and human rights advocate raised concerns about the presence of modern slavery in renewable energy supply chains, particularly highlighting the use of Uyghur slave labor in Chinese solar products. He emphasized that Chinese solar panels, made with polysilicon from Xinjiang, are linked to forced labor practices in the region.
Alton stressed the dilemma of depending on Chinese solar products tainted by modern slavery to meet climate goals. He pointed out that the Chinese Communist Party’s control over the renewables supply chain poses significant ethical challenges.
He highlighted the higher carbon footprint of solar panels manufactured in Xinjiang due to slave labor, underscoring the need for ethical sourcing practices. Alton, along with other MPs, called for measures to address forced labor in the supply chain and prioritize responsible production.
The article also discussed the importance of ensuring clean energy production aligns with human rights standards and ethical labor practices. It mentioned the UK’s commitment to tackling forced labor in supply chains and highlighted efforts to enforce laws against modern slavery.
Additionally, the article touched on the risks of unethical goods entering the UK market and the need for stricter import rules to prevent human rights abuses. It emphasized the importance of ethical sourcing and labor practices in the renewable energy sector to combat forced labor and ensure responsible production. Can you rewrite this sentence for me?
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