{"id":137115,"date":"2024-02-13T17:32:16","date_gmt":"2024-02-13T17:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/350.org\/fr\/?p=137115"},"modified":"2025-03-26T17:33:38","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T17:33:38","slug":"quen-est-il-des-problemes-de-droits-de-lhomme-et-denvironnement-lies-a-lenergie-solaire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/350.org\/fr\/quen-est-il-des-problemes-de-droits-de-lhomme-et-denvironnement-lies-a-lenergie-solaire\/","title":{"rendered":"Qu’en est-il des probl\u00e8mes de droits de l’homme et d’environnement li\u00e9s \u00e0 l’\u00e9nergie solaire ?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Solar panels are made from the Earth. It\u2019s a part of our Mother who should be treated with reverence and care.<\/em><\/p>\n

Those of us concerned about climate justice have to look very carefully at how the solar industry replicates old models of extraction. At the same time, we have to acknowledge that criticism of the industry is overstated \u2014 and largely built on fossil fuel industry\u2019s talking points in their attempts to keep polluting at far greater rates. This is very short review.<\/em><\/p>\n

Where are solar panels made?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most of the assembly of solar panels happens in China (7 of 10 the biggest solar companies). The others are in US, South Korea, Canada, and Germany.<\/p>\n

But that\u2019s not really where they come from \u2014 just where their many parts are assembled.<\/p>\n\"\"\n

Where do the parts of a solar panel come from?<\/strong><\/p>\n

A critical piece in solar panels are the cells which are made from solar-grade polysilicon. Nearly half (45%) of that polysilicon is produced in the Uyghur Region in China. There is\u00a0huge evidence<\/a>\u00a0that there the workers are forced laborers from the Uyghur population.<\/p>\n

Most of the rest of the solar panels \u2014 like the frames \u2014 are typically from recycled aluminum or other reused materials (roughly 40%).<\/p>\n

What about lithium and cobalt?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Batteries typically use lithium and cobalt (or other rare earth metals). The type of metal used differs depending on the type of battery. But based on current technology, there is a global race for these minerals because of the boom in solar batteries and storage.<\/p>\n

Cobalt is largely produced in the Democratic Republic of Congo \u2014 two-thirds. Much of this is funded from China. In the Congo there are deep, ongoing abuses of human rights. Unlike in China, pro-human rights groups haven\u2019t suggested a boycott from Congo would help; instead, there have been demands for solar companies to require their partners operate under human rights laws.<\/p>\n

Lithium is found more scattered across the globe. The largest deposits are in Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, US, Australia and China. China has the most developed lithium mines and has largely cornered the market as of now. Accusations of forced labour at Chinese mines is rampant. The US, by contrast, has only one operating lithium mine \u2014 others are proposed in Native American sacred lands.<\/p>\n

Generally, mining is a filthy industry. It produces tons of waste. Requires high use of water. Is associated with poor working conditions. Creates new geopolitical tensions. And it takes a lot of energy to mine.<\/p>\n

Sounds awful. Are they that bad?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In my smalltown of Richmond, Indiana \u2014 a quiet town of 30,000 people \u2014 the fossil fuel industry sent along its talking points: \u201cWind turbines kill birds. Solar exploits human rights. They\u2019re ugly and bad for the environment and people.\u201d The city put a pause on all wind turbines.<\/p>\n

The fossil fuel industry stands to lose a lot of money and power. They regularly build up attacks on solar. But it\u2019s really, really, really important to remind ourselves all the things the fossil fuel industry has brought us:<\/p>\n