Hi, welcome to the Shuang Tan newsletter, curated, edited, and written by me, Hongqiao Liu.
For those who don’t know me yet, I am an independent expert consultant based in Paris. My expertise lies at the intersection of China, energy, climate, finance, and geopolitics. After transitioning from being an award-winning investigative journalist a decade ago, I have since worked with numerous clients across sectors to design effective strategies, produce impactful research, and implement tactical engagement that drives meaningful changes in sustainable development in Asia and Europe. (Read more: TED talk, Vox coverage, and my website.)
An extension of my consulting service, this newsletter offers policy analysis, data insights, and human-centered stories on the world’s largest emitter. Launched in 2022, it is dedicated to tracking China’s policies and actions toward achieving its “dual carbon” climate pledges of carbon peaking before 2030 and carbon neutral before 2060. Hence the name: Shuang Tan = Shuāng Tàn = 双碳 = dual carbon.
Here at Shuang Tan, we write for impact. We believe that to avoid the devastating consequences of runaway climate change, China must decarbonize, and understanding the country’s decarbonization drive is the foundation for any form of engagement to accelerate climate action in China and with China.
That’s why we’ve chosen the more challenging path. Instead of merely compiling news or exploiting the information asymmetry between the Chinese and English-speaking worlds, we are committed to providing unique perspectives, fostering meaningful dialogues, and building consensus on China and climate – arguably two of the most important, complex, yet least understood issues of our time.
📅 Every Monday or Thursday, and occasionally on both days, we send a 2,000-2,500-word newsletter to your inbox.
📰 Every edition explores a specific issue related to China’s energy transition and decarbonization.
🎓 Each week, we feature one or two guest articles from leading experts across various fields – politics, diplomacy, academia, consulting, investment, media, or philanthropy – accompanied by my brief commentary that contextualizes and deepens the discussion.
🔍 We adhere to the highest industry standards in fact-checking and aim to transform complex, niche, and jargon-heavy essays into clear, balanced, and accessible articles that you can enjoy with your morning coffee.
🀄 We also offer partial or full translations of selected articles in Chinese. Please consider subscribing to ‘双碳精选.’
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🙌 If you find value in our newsletter, we warmly invite you to upgrade your subscription and support our work. Each edition requires dozens of hours of dedicated effort. Your support will allow us to go far.
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