“Doing it for the next generation”: How volunteering helped me turn climate concern into action

With over a decade of experience in corporate communications, Denise Siu wanted to steer her career towards sustainability. As a mother to a nature-loving eight-year-old, volunteering gave Denise a practical way to contribute to a better future for the next generation.

How did you come to volunteer with Net Zero Tracker?

“I spent more than 10 years working in corporate communications for listed companies, financial institutions, and professional bodies. Then, after becoming a full-time mum for a couple of years, I started thinking seriously about shifting my career towards sustainability.

During that time, I completed an academic course in business sustainability management, but I still felt I needed practical hands-on experience of working in the field. I wanted to build my knowledge, connect with people working in sustainability, and contribute to something meaningful.

When I found Net Zero Tracker, it immediately stood out because the work matched my existing skill set — analysing reports, researching disclosures, and working with complex information.”

Did becoming a parent influence your motivation?

“Definitely. Since having my son, climate change feels much more personal. He’s very interested in nature and animals, and that naturally pushed me to learn more about the natural world myself.

Now my son is eight years old, and climate change is already part of everyday conversation for his generation. For example, he and his friends will talk about the different carbon footprints of their food choices during lunch at school, and climate is a recurring topic in the children’s news programme they watch daily. For them, this is not a distant issue — it’s simply part of reality.

When I’m working on Tracker tasks, he often asks what I’m doing and why I’m tracking companies or governments. I explain that we’re helping make climate promises more transparent and holding entities accountable for their promises.

I think becoming a parent made me realise much more strongly that our generation has a responsibility to build a better future before handing things over to the next generation.”

What was the volunteering experience like?

“Volunteering has been incredibly rewarding. The actual coding and research work was eye-opening because it exposed me to how net zero targets are set, communicated, and monitored across different countries and sectors.

You quickly realise this isn’t just data entry — the information volunteers collect feeds directly into analyses, media articles, and wider political discussions. You genuinely feel that your work matters.

Another huge positive has been the people. The Tracker team creates a very welcoming and supportive environment. There’s regular feedback, opportunities to connect with other volunteers, whether to share new insights, or job opportunities.”

Did the experience reveal any broader patterns in climate reporting?

“Yes — one thing I noticed often was the use of vague language. Many organisations say they ‘support’ national climate targets, but without setting specific goals or showing concrete action themselves. 

You have to read very carefully to distinguish between genuine commitments and simply paying lip service to climate action.”

How has the experience influenced your career and skills?

“Volunteering gave me a crash course in climate literacy. Before joining, I didn’t fully understand concepts like Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, carbon offsetting, or carbon removal.

It also helped me develop practical data skills — working with databases, coding information consistently, and understanding how large-scale climate policy datasets are built and verified.

Beyond the technical skills, it gave me confidence that I could contribute meaningfully to sustainability work.”

What would you say to potential volunteers?

“I would absolutely encourage anyone interested in climate action to give it a go — especially people considering a career transition or parents thinking about the future their children will inherit.

You do not need to be an expert to start. If you’re curious and willing to learn, the experience will teach you a huge amount.

Most importantly, you feel that your contribution matters. The volunteers are truly the engine of the Tracker – the data we collect is used in real discussions around policy, business, and climate accountability worldwide. That’s incredibly motivating.”

Are you interested in volunteering with Net Zero Tracker? Sign up here.