MANOJ KUMAR RAWAT
Demystifying the Carbon Economy
Carbon Credit: A Beginner’s Guide – Demystifying the Carbon Economy is a simple, clear, and engaging introduction to carbon markets, the climate economy, and carbon literacy.
It is intended for a wide audience interested in understanding how the carbon economy works and why it matters.
A simple, practical and reader-friendly guide, it makes one of the most important subjects of our time accessible, relevant, and easier to understand.
The book is written by Manoj Rawat, a Senior Agriculture, MSME, and Rural banking & Finance professional with over three decades of experience, working with national and global institutions at the intersection of finance,
development and the emerging carbon
economy.
With illustrations, examples, and actionable insights.
About the book
Carbon Credit:
A Beginner's Guide
Carbon Credit: A Beginner’s Guide – Demystifying the Carbon Economy is a simple, clear, and practical introduction to carbon credits, the climate economy and carbon literacy.
Written by an experienced professional and practitioner, it is intended for a wide readership—including interested readers, students, working professionals, policymakers, business leaders, and sustainability teams. It outlines how carbon markets, ESG principles, and climate finance support the shift towards cleaner development, and highlights India’s growing role in global climate action.
The book explains how carbon credits are created, traded, and verified—and why integrity and verification matter for credible climate outcomes.
Covering the building blocks of the carbon economy and carbon markets, it also examines themes such as sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, electric vehicles, green startups, jobs in the green economy, global trends, emerging innovations, and critical minerals for clean technologies—linking each to India’s pathway towards net-zero.
Whether you are exploring the subject for the first time or strengthening your understanding, the book provides a strong foundation to engage confidently with the evolving climate economy and serves as a simple, ready-reference guide to carbon literacy.
Key Topics Covered
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What carbon credits are and how they drive climate action
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The science of emissions, baselines, and carbon measurement
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Global carbon markets and India’s evolving policy landscape
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Carbon trading, pricing, and regulatory frameworks
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ESG principles, climate disclosure, and sustainability reporting
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Agriculture, irrigation, and renewable energy opportunities
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Electric vehicles, rare earth materials, and their carbon impact
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Ensuring integrity: MRV, verification, and avoiding greenwashing
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Case studies and best practices from India and across the world
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India’s roadmap to leadership in the global carbon economy
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“Small Actions, Big Steps” — how individuals and SMEs can contribute
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Handy glossary, formulae, and quick-reference tool
Structured across 18 concise chapters, the book presents technical topics in a clear, point-wise format for simple understanding and easy reference.
It includes a dedicated section on India’s critical minerals and carbon strategy, along with a comprehensive glossary and a reference bibliography for deeper exploration.
Available in print and digital editions, Carbon Credit: A Beginner’s Guide is suitable for students, researchers, working professionals, policymakers, and climate entrepreneurs who want to understand & engage with the evolving carbon economy.
▣ ISBN (Paperback): 978-93-343-6282-4
▣ ISBN (eBook): 978-93-343-7713-2
This book is a step towards building carbon literacy and enabling individuals and institutions to participate meaningfully in climate action, an issue of growing global priority. 🌱Rural Rethink Advisory.
More about the book
Carbon Markets and Climate Action
Project Development to Certification
Startups and India’s Climate Leadership
About the author
Manoj Kumar Rawat is a senior banking and development finance professional with over three decades of experience spanning rural banking, agriculture and MSME finance, and climate-aligned development.
As the Founder of Rural Rethink Advisory, he currently serves as an Chief Executive and Strategic Advisor to multilateral development partners, financial institutions, and global corporates.
His diverse career began as a Scientist-Engineer with ISRO before transitioning into leadership roles across the financial spectrum. Manoj has served as Group EVP and Management Committee member at RBL Bank, Vice President at Fullerton India (Temasek), and Managing Director & CEO of an RBI-registered NBFC. His deep institutional roots include twelve years at NABARD, where he oversaw national rural infrastructure and investment credit. More recently, he served as Senior Consultant and Lead Architect to IFAD (United Nations), designing national agri-finance facility.
Manoj’s work is defined by a unique blend of hands-on field understanding and strategic policy experience. He has collaborated with global agencies including FAO, GIZ, USAID, and the IFC, and has advised the Government of India on the e-NAM digital agricultural market platform.
An alumnus of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology (B.Tech Gold Medallist), he holds an M.E., MBA (Finance), and is a CAIIB.
He is a Certified Independent Board Director (IICA) and has completed executive leadership and specialized certifications in ESG and Sustainable Finance from Cornell, Wharton, Oxford Saïd, and IIM Ahmedabad and AI certification from IBM.
A writer and practitioner at the intersection of rural finance and the carbon economy, Manoj is the author of Carbon Credit: A Beginner's Guide. Based in Mumbai, he remains dedicated to exploring how digital innovations and sustainable finance can bridge the gap toward climate-aligned development.
