Lost Debate The Moral Cost of Phones
Jan 21, 2026
Nicolas Niarchos, an investigative journalist and author of The Elements of Power, sheds light on the troubling hidden costs of battery technology. He exposes the brutal mining realities in Congo and China’s dominance over the battery supply chain. The discussion covers the colonial legacies affecting modern mining, the harsh realities of artisanal labor, and the surprising emissions tradeoffs between hybrids and EVs. Niarchos also emphasizes the urgent need for consumer awareness and proactive governmental strategies to promote ethical practices in the industry.
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Hidden Costs Behind Green Tech
- Battery-powered tech's rise hides deep human and geopolitical costs from mining to refinement.
- Nicolas Niarchos argues EVs and phones can be morally and environmentally worse than assumed.
Reporter’s Personal Cost And Irony
- Nicolas Niarchos began reporting this project six years ago and bought multiple phones during research.
- He even had two phones confiscated by Congolese police while reporting.
Artisanal Mining Grew With Our Phones
- Artisanal mining expanded alongside the mobile phone boom, creating hazardous, low-tech extraction.
- Battery minerals like cobalt, lithium, and nickel bring severe pollution and rights abuses in producing countries.
