Rethinking Data: A Rewarding Path Into Climate Action

London-based data analyst Hantao Liu has volunteered with NZT between 2023 and 2024. Here, she reflects on how the experience reshaped her understanding of climate action – as a system shaped by data, transparency, and collective behaviour.

How did you come to volunteer with Net Zero Tracker?

“I initially studied sociology at the London School of Economics (LSE), which gave me a strong grounding in questions of fairness, responsibility, and the impact of major decisions on societies. This sparked an interest in how behaviour is shaped by norms and comparison.

Then I began studying ESG investing to better understand how to scale climate action in the corporate world. A friend who was volunteering with the Tracker introduced me. Volunteering was a natural next step – to apply what I had learned to real-world climate commitment data.”

What was the experience like?

“Volunteering has been both demanding and rewarding. The work is guided by a detailed manual and codebook which explains how to assess and categorise information.

At the same time, much of the material is qualitative. You read reports and plans, making careful judgments about what they reveal. There’s also a quality-control process: one person creates a record, and another approves it – which lowers the risk of subjective interpretation.

From a sociological perspective, these documents are not just technical – they are signals, reflecting how companies and governments  position themselves and respond to expectations. NZT makes those signals visible and comparable, which is really compelling.

Another highlight was collaborating with a large global community. That creates a strong sense of connection and allows you to draw on others’ knowledge when working outside your own context.”

What kinds of entities have you been tracking?

“I worked across a range of cities in the UK and Europe, as well as some cities and regions in Asia. My Chinese language skills were very useful in assessing Chinese companies, as the Chinese-language documents were often more detailed than the English versions.”

Did the experience reveal any broader patterns in net zero target-setting?

“One of the clearest patterns was the gap between ambition and implementation. Many entities announce long-term net zero goals, but far fewer provide detailed plans showing how they will get there.

I was also struck that while many climate plans include high-level commitments, few clearly set out who is affected by climate impacts – and how vulnerable groups can be protected.”

How has the experience influenced your career?

“Volunteering changed the way I think about data. Net Zero Tracker showed me how qualitative climate disclosures can be systematically coded, structured and compared, to turn complex narratives into powerful evidence of accountability.”

This insight resonated with my later studies in business analytics at University College London (UCL), where I developed skills in programming and natural language processing. 

At the end of my studies, I applied these skills during a placement at ITV, using machine learning to analyse audience data. 

The experience strongly influenced my transition from social science into business analytics, and continues to shape how I think about data, accountability, and technology-driven decision-making.” 

What would you say to potential volunteers?

“Volunteering with NZT is a rare opportunity to be part of a global effort that is shaping how climate action is understood and evaluated. It helps you build a nuanced understanding of climate change –  beyond high-level concepts or the news – to see how commitments are actually planned, implemented and evaluated – in practice.

Interested in volunteering with the Net Zero Tracker? Sign up here.