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Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE One in five NHS trusts using Chinese-made solar panels 'linked to slaves'
One in five NHS trusts are using solar panels produced by Chinese companies with alleged ties to slave labour, the Mail can reveal. Hospitals, mental health units and ambulance stations across the country are fitted with such panels, with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband looking to expand the scheme exponentially. His controversial plans to refit the roofs of 200 schools and 200 NHS sites have sparked fury among human rights campaigners. But despite Labour bowing to pressure and trying to stop the future purchase of panels from slave labour, critics have warned it will prove challenging, meaning more will end up on NHS buildings. Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said the Government must do more to clean up the sector as our investigation found: Around two thirds of NHS Trusts currently using solar panels have installed equipment made by Chinese firms – with the majority allegedly having ties to slave labour; Some panels were installed after the links were made public and after laws were introduced aimed at cleaning up UK supply chains; and The largest provider is Beijing-based firm JA Solar, which has provided panels for 19 NHS sites despite being banned in the US. China is behind 80 per cent of the global supply of solar panels – and more than a third of the world's polysilicon, a key component, comes from the Xinjiang region. There, Uighur Muslims are rounded up and forced to work for little or no pay. The solar sector has known its supply chains are affected by slave labour since 2020, according to a report by Sheffield Hallam university. And in April 2023, the Tory government introduced requirements for public bodies to provide supply chain information for products deemed at risk of modern slavery. The Mail asked trusts for names of firms that installed and made their panels, alongside correspondence discussing risk of slave labour in the supply chain. But replies show some NHS managers seem to be passing the buck to subcontractors. Of the 215 health trusts in England, 98 use solar power across 212 sites, with 46 trusts having installed solar panels made by Chinese companies. Some 40 of these are using firms linked to slave labour in the 2023 report by Sheffield Hallam. In December 2024, Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust installed 86 solar panels made by Chinese firm Longi at a new £9 million outpatient department at West Cornwall Hospital. But when asked what due diligence was carried out, the trust said it was 'not aware of any correspondence' discussing the risk. Instead, it pointed to Longi's code of conduct, which says the firm does 'not engage in or tolerate any form of modern slavery'. But Longi was one of ten makers said to have a 'very high' exposure to slave labour in Xinjiang by the 2023 report. RCHT and contractor Kier Construction said that Kier 'received extensive assurances from its supply chain regarding the ethical production of PV panels' and that its 'procurement processes integrate modern slavery due diligence'. Longi denied that forced labour was present in its supply chain. Some trusts said panels had been installed before modern slavery statutes were introduced in 2023. But Luke de Pulford, of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, said companies should still have been screened for exposure to slave labour, given the known risks. Mr Miliband's £180million of new investment in solar panels is to come from GB Energy, the Government's new, publicly owned clean energy company. The Government initially voted down a Lords amendment to stop GB Energy buying panels made using slave labour from China. It reversed its position after 92 Labour MPs abstained. But the Government's measure in the GB Energy Act only applies to the state-owned energy firm, so private firms could still use Chinese materials. Mr De Pulford said it would be 'difficult' to ensure equipment was clean of slave labour, as the Government 'doesn't have the ability to do the kind of due diligence that's required'. And Sir Iain called on the Government to adopt the US model, which places the burden of proof on Chinese firms to prove they are free from slave labour. Professor Laura Murphy, co-author of the Sheffield Hallam report, said it was possible to meet demand without relying on slave labour, but the sector had not done enough to overhaul or scrutinise supply chains. An NHS England spokesman said: 'NHS trusts should always purchase products in line with government procurement guidelines – which includes identifying higher risk sectors and taking appropriate action.'
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
JA Solar with 23 Leading Solar Companies unveils the first Initiative for Global Solar Sustainable Alliance at UNGC's summit
JAKARTA, Indonesia, May 25, 2025 /CNW/ -- On May 25, 2025, at the UN Global Compact (UNGC)'s Inaugural Global Business Summit in Jakarta, a total of 24 global leading solar companies including JA Solar, Jinko Solar, Tongwei, LONGi, GCL Group and other core upstream suppliers, collectively released the initiative for "Global Solar Sustainable Alliance (GSSA)". Distinguished leaders across government, industry and academia attended the summit, including United Nations Global Compact Assistant Secretary-General and CEO Sanda Ojiambo, United Nations Resident Coordinator in China Siddharth Chatterjee , Chairman of the National Economic Council of the Republic of Indonesia H.E. Luhut B. Pandjaitan, Founder and co-chairman of Bridgewater Associates Ray Dalio, President of the China Electricity Council Bao'an Xin, Chairman of Xiamen Airlines Dong Zhao, Founder and Chairman of GCL Gongshan Zhu. At this critical juncture of global energy transition, the solar industry, as a cornerstone of renewable energy, serves as a pivotal solution to combat climate change and achieve carbon neutrality goals. Amid rapid industry growth, leading enterprises have jointly launched this initiative to address social and environmental challenges and advance sustainable development. Committed to delivering clean energy globally, the Initiative aims to strengthen sustainability across the entire value chain — promoting green mineral sourcing from the source, protecting ecosystems and biodiversity, building an equitable society for common good, and driving inclusive growth. Aligned with the UNGC Ten Principles and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Initiative outlines 9 actionable pathways across three pillars, advancing ESG progress across the solar value chain and promoting its positive impact on the international market. The GSSA initiative has garnered strong endorsement from the UNGC. Meng Liu, UNGC China Representative, stated: "We commend the global solar industry, particularly Chinese photovoltaic enterprises, for their contributions to advancing the global energy transition, and we welcome the launch of this initiative. Closely aligned with the principles of the United Nations Global Compact, the Initiative underscores corporate responsibilities in environmental protection, human rights safeguards, and sound governance. We look forward to the solar industry setting an exemplary model for global sustainable development through collective action." Jing Li, Vice President of Branding and Sustainability Officer of JA Solar, officially launched this GSSA Initiative at the event, and introduced JA Solar's newly constructed responsible supply chain strategy with the theme of "Together Towards Tomorrow", which aims to promote the multi-stakeholders along the industry's value chain to evolve towards a sustainable future. UNGC encourages more solar companies and supply chain partners to join this initiative and jointly advance the sustainable development of the industry. To truly fulfill the summit's vision of 'Better Business, Better World: Accelerating the SDGs', the first co-signatories pledge to collaboratively develop a concrete action roadmap with stakeholder engagement, to ensure effective implementation of the Initiative. Appendix : Global Solar Sustainable Alliance (GSSA) As the backbone of renewable energy, the global solar sector provides consumers, industries, and society with affordable and reliable clean energy. It has made remarkable contributions to advancing global energy transition and promoting sustainable development, with immense potential yet to be realized. On the other hand, after decades of growth, the social and environmental footprints of the solar industry, particularly the associated risks across its supply chain—have increasingly emerged. These challenges pose significant obstacles to unleashing the industry's full potential and achieving its own sustainable development. In light of this, we, as the undersigned photovoltaic enterprises and supply chain participants, guided by the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), hereby launch the Global Solar Sustainable Alliance (GSSA). We call on all companies in the industry and its supply chains to adopt sustainability principles and strategies, and actively undertake the following actions: I. Just Transition: Safeguarding the green ecosystems and environment a) Reduce pollution, conserve resources, improve environmental management, implement clean production, and promote a circular economy. b) Cut energy consumption and carbon emissions, adapt to climate change, establish science-based greenhouse gas reduction targets, and achieve net-zero emissions as soon as possible. c) Protect biodiversity and ecosystems, promoting green mining from origins of materials, ensuring zero deforestation and no net loss of biodiversity. II. People-Centric Development: Building an Equitable Society for Common Good a) Respect and protect workers' fundamental rights, create gender-responsive, diverse, inclusive, safe, and healthy workplaces, and enhance employees' skills and development potential. b) Advance responsible procurement and marketing practices, implement human rights due diligence in supply chains, improve value chain transparency, traceability, and collaborative mechanisms, and strengthen supply chain resilience. c) Plan PV projects in alignment with local conditions, respect the rights of communities and residents, and leverage industry expertise to support community and social development. III. Governance Enhancement: Driving Inclusive Growth a) Optimize corporate governance structures, enhance professionalism and diversity in governance mechanisms, improve investor relations management, and protect the rights of minority shareholders. b) Operate with integrity and compliance, oppose all forms of unfair competition practices, proactively uphold a sound market order, and foster the healthy development of the industry. c) Strengthen internal and external oversight systems, conduct standardized information disclosure and regular tracking of progress and targets, and establish multi-channel stakeholder engagement and dialogue mechanisms. Building on the above consensus, we will pool wisdom and resources, engage in full collaboration, and establish a concrete action roadmap with the participation and support of multi-stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the GSSA Initiative. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE JA Solar Technology Co., Ltd. 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