A Crackdown on Climate Advocacy
Indian authorities have launched a high-profile investigation into prominent climate activists, accusing them of undermining national security through their environmental campaigns. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), a financial investigation agency operating under the Ministry of Finance, recently raided the homes and offices of Harjeet Singh and his wife, Jyoti Awasthi. The couple co-founded Satat Sampada, an organization focused on sustainable development and climate action. The agency claims the pair received nearly $667,000 in foreign funding to advocate for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (FFNPT), an international initiative aimed at phasing out the use of coal, oil, and gas.
This move has sent shockwaves through India’s environmental community and raised concerns about the shrinking space for civil society in the world’s largest democracy. The ED alleges that while Singh’s organization presented itself as a company marketing organic produce, it was actually acting as a front to channel foreign funds into influencing domestic policy debates. Investigators argue that promoting a treaty to end fossil fuel use could expose India to legal challenges in international courts and compromise the nation’s energy security and economic development.
The operation led to Singh’s arrest, not for the financial allegations initially cited, but for possessing liquor bottles reported to be beyond permissible limits under local excise laws. He was granted bail by a district court in Ghaziabad the following day. The raids also targeted the residence of Sanjay Vashisht, director of the Climate Action Network South Asia, although the ED has not publicly confirmed details regarding his case.
The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Explained
At the heart of this controversy is the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. This global campaign calls for a binding international agreement to stop the exploration of new fossil fuel reserves and to manage a global transition away from coal, oil, and gas. The concept draws parallels to nuclear non-proliferation, positing that the uncontrolled expansion of fossil fuels poses an existential threat to humanity.
The initiative has garnered significant international support. It has been endorsed by eighteen national governments, including the Pacific Island nations of Vanuatu and Tuvalu, as well as Colombia and Pakistan. Furthermore, the World Health Organization, the European Parliament, and hundreds of cities and subnational governments have backed the treaty. Notably, the city of Kolkata in India is among the local governments supporting the initiative.
Tzeporah Berman, founder and chair of the FFNPT Initiative, defended the proposal in a statement. She argued that the treaty clearly articulates the principle of common but differentiated historical responsibilities for the climate crisis. According to Berman, the proposal intends to support developing countries, including India, through international cooperation, economic diversification, and technology transfer, rather than penalizing them for their development needs.
However, the Indian ED views the treaty differently. The agency contends that while presented as a climate measure, the adoption of such a treaty could expose India to legal liabilities in forums like the International Court of Justice. They fear it could restrict the country’s ability to use fossil fuels necessary for economic growth and lifting millions out of poverty, despite India’s commitments to renewable energy.
Allegations of Foreign Interference
The ED’s investigation centers on the financial transactions of Satat Sampada Private Limited (SSPL). The agency suspects that the organization received approximately Rs 6 crore in suspicious foreign inward remittances since 2021. These funds were reportedly classified as “consultancy charges” or “agro-product sales” from organizations such as the Climate Action Network and Stand.Earth.
Investigators allege that these foreign entities, in turn, received funds from “prior reference category” NGOs like Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. Under Indian law, individuals and organizations must obtain specific permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs to receive funds from such designated donors. The ED claims that cross-verification of filings by remitters abroad indicates the money was actually intended to promote the FFNPT agenda within India, rather than for legitimate business activities.
The ED stated in a press release, “While presented as a climate initiative, its adoption could expose India to legal challenges in international forums like the international court of justice (ICJ) and severely compromise the nation’s energy security and economic development.”
Agency officers also scrutinized trips Singh made to Pakistan and Bangladesh in 2025. They questioned the funding of these visits and alleged that in Bangladesh, Singh met with individuals unconnected to the stated purpose of his trip during a period of anti-India protests. The agency’s focus on these international connections highlights the government’s sensitivity to foreign influence in domestic policy matters.
Defendants Deny the Charges
Harjeet Singh and Jyoti Awasthi have vehemently denied the allegations, labeling them as “baseless, biased, and misleading.” In a statement released through Satat Sampada, they explained that they started the organization with their own savings and loans secured against their home in 2016. They stated that the organization’s consultancy and management services grew naturally in 2021 after Singh left his full-time employment to focus on its work.
Singh, a veteran campaigner with over two decades of experience in international climate policy, emphasized his consistent support for India’s stance on the global stage. He told media outlets that he has repeatedly praised India’s exceptional renewable energy journey and argued that developed nations must provide more financial support to developing countries to facilitate the green transition.
“I have never worked with the government,” Singh stated in an interview, rejecting the ED’s allegation that he was influencing government decision-making. “Unfortunately, the Indian government is unable to understand the viewpoint of civil society and activists like us, who are actually in line with what the government is saying.”
Regarding the foreign funds, Singh clarified that SSPL provides consultancy services just like any other firm and that the income from these services is legitimate business revenue. He and his wife maintain that they have fully cooperated with the investigation, providing all relevant information and documentary evidence. They urged media organizations to report responsibly and avoid speculation, reiterating their faith in due process and the rule of law.
A Wider Pattern of Pressure on Civil Society
This incident is not an isolated event but part of a broader trend of increasing pressure on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society groups in India. Under the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has tightened regulations surrounding foreign funding. In 2020, India passed the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, which significantly restricted the ability of civil society groups to receive donations from abroad.
The statistics are stark. Almost 17,000 licenses to receive foreign funding have been suspended in recent years, leading to the shutdown of a large number of civil society organizations. Critics argue that these regulations are often used to target groups that are critical of government policies or work on issues deemed sensitive, such as environmental protection and human rights.
In 2021, the arrest of young climate activist Disha Ravi on charges of sedition for supporting farmer protests drew international condemnation. Nearly five years later, she remains on bail with conditions that prevent her from traveling abroad. The recent targeting of Singh and others suggests that climate activism, particularly when linked to international networks, is increasingly viewed with suspicion by state agencies.
Unnamed ED officers quoted in the media have indicated that other activists “whose climate campaigns may be inimical to India’s energy security” are also under the scanner. This warning signals a potential widening of the probe that could chill environmental advocacy across the country.
The Global Context of Climate Finance
The tension between national sovereignty and global climate action is playing out against a backdrop of intense international negotiations. At the COP28 summit in Dubai, nations agreed for the first time to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a “just, orderly and equitable manner.” This agreement acknowledged the need for developed countries to significantly scale up climate finance and support for developing nations, recognizing their different capabilities and historical responsibilities.
Harjeet Singh has been a familiar figure at these COP negotiations for years. He has worked with international NGOs like ActionAid and the Climate Action Network, consistently advocating for the rights of the Global South. At COP30, held in Belem, Brazil, he praised the Indian government for turning the pressure back on wealthy nations, making it clear that reaching the 1.5C temperature target requires the Global North to reach net zero far earlier than current targets.
The investigation into Singh began reportedly on the basis of intelligence received during that same COP30 summit. This timing suggests a disconnect between the diplomatic battles fought in international forums and the domestic policing of environmental discourse. While India engages in global negotiations on climate finance and fossil fuel transitions, activists at home are facing scrutiny for facilitating these very conversations.
Implications for Environmental Governance
The raids have sparked widespread criticism from international organizations and human rights groups. Global Witness, an organization that monitors environmental and human rights abuses, condemned the raids as an attempt to stifle dissent. Activists argue that the ability to receive foreign funding is crucial for independent organizations to hold governments accountable and advocate for sustainable policies.
There is also concern about the message this sends to the international community regarding India’s commitment to open dialogue on climate change. As a country vulnerable to climate impacts, India relies on robust civil society engagement to implement adaptation and mitigation strategies at the grassroots level. Targeting those who work on climate justice could hinder the country’s own long-term environmental goals.
Furthermore, the conflation of routine financial compliance checks with national security accusations sets a concerning precedent. It suggests that advocating for policy changes aligned with global scientific consensus, such as reducing fossil fuel dependence, could be framed as acting against the national interest.
What to Know
- The Enforcement Directorate raided the home of activist Harjeet Singh over allegations of misusing $667,000 in foreign funds to promote the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.
- Singh was arrested and later granted bail, with the immediate cause of arrest cited as the possession of liquor beyond legal limits.
- The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is a global initiative backed by 18 governments and the WHO to phase out coal, oil, and gas.
- The ED claims the treaty could hurt India’s energy security and expose it to legal challenges in international courts.
- Singh and his co-founder wife deny the charges, stating the allegations are baseless and their organization provides legitimate consultancy services.
- The investigation is part of a wider crackdown on civil society in India, where nearly 17,000 licenses for foreign funding have been suspended.
