A small-town engineer who recognised the economic potential of climate action years before the market caught up and helped put India on the global carbon map.
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE
Long before climate action became a boardroom priority, carbon markets were an unfamiliar concept for most businesses. Sustainability was often viewed as a compliance requirement rather than a business opportunity. Yet, amid this uncertainty, a young engineer from Indore saw something others did not – the potential to create economic value while delivering environmental impact. That vision would eventually lead to the creation of one of the world’s leading carbon credit companies.
For Manish Dabkara, the journey was never about following trends. It was about recognising a future that had not yet arrived.
Armed with an engineering background and specialised studies in energy and environmental sciences, Dabkara developed an early understanding of the challenges posed by climate change and resource constraints. While many of his peers were pursuing conventional career paths, he found himself increasingly drawn towards the emerging intersection of business, sustainability and environmental responsibility.
In 2008, at a time when discussions around net-zero, ESG and carbon credits were far from mainstream, he founded EKI Energy Services. It was a bold move. The climate economy was still in its infancy, awareness was limited and the path ahead was uncertain. Yet the idea was simple: help organisations reduce their environmental footprint while unlocking value from climate action.
Building a business around carbon markets in those early years required more than technical expertise. It demanded patience, persistence and conviction. There were few precedents to follow and even fewer success stories to emulate. Conversations that today dominate corporate agendas often required lengthy explanations back then.
But every emerging industry needs pioneers willing to take the first step. Over the years, Dabkara steadily built EKI into a trusted climate solutions partner, helping organisations navigate the complex world of carbon credits, emissions reduction and sustainability strategies. What began as a small entrepreneurial venture gradually expanded beyond India, establishing a presence across international markets and working with businesses seeking practical pathways towards climate goals.
As global awareness around climate change accelerated, so did the relevance of the solutions EKI offered. Under Dabkara’s leadership, the company evolved into a major force in the carbon markets ecosystem. Today, it serves thousands of clients across more than 40 countries and has facilitated the supply of hundreds of millions of carbon offsets worldwide.
Yet numbers alone do not define the story. What makes Dabkara’s journey remarkable is the consistency of purpose that has guided it. While the sustainability sector has witnessed changing regulations, evolving market dynamics and shifting public narratives, his focus has remained centred on a single idea: climate action must create meaningful value for both people and the planet.
That philosophy has shaped not only business growth but also broader efforts to expand climate solutions into areas such as community development, clean energy access and nature-based initiatives. It reflects an understanding that sustainability is most effective when environmental outcomes are aligned with economic opportunity.
Today, conversations around carbon markets have moved from the margins to the mainstream. Governments are building carbon trading systems, corporations are strengthening decarbonisation commitments and investors increasingly view sustainability as a critical business consideration. In many ways, the world is catching up to a vision that pioneers like Dabkara believed in years ago.
His story serves as a reminder that transformative journeys rarely begin with certainty. They begin with conviction.
From a young engineer exploring the possibilities of environmental solutions to leading a globally recognised climate enterprise, Manish Dabkara’s journey demonstrates the power of thinking ahead of one’s time. More importantly, it highlights how purpose driven entrepreneurship can create impact that extends far beyond business success.
Because sometimes, the most significant achievements come not from predicting the future, but from helping build it.
