Cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a hydrogen megaproject on Namibia's coast, and oil-soaked mangroves in Nigeria's Niger Delta form the three case studies in this DW investigation into who really pays for the world's green energy transition. In Congo, Chinese traders buy cobalt from illegal mining operations that feed Europe's battery supply chains, even as the EU tries to position itself as the more ethical alternative to Beijing. In Namibia, a German-backed green hydrogen project promises local jobs while threatening to carve into a national park, prompting environmentalist Chris Brown to ask why Germany won't sacrifice its own protected land instead. In Nigeria, European gas companies have quietly pursued new fossil fuel deals since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, undercutting the continent's climate rhetoric. Congolese activist Patricia Kashala argues that Europe's promises of fair, sustainable partnership rarely survive contact with its raw material interests. Interviews with miners, activists, and officials build a picture of a resource race that looks different depending on which side of the transaction you stand.