Catherine Abreu Named One of Canada’s Clean50

Climate Action Network Canada’s Executive Director Recognized for Leadership in Fighting Climate Change

October 3, 2019

Unceded Territories of the Anishinabek, Haudenosauneega Confederacy, and Huron-Wendat Peoples [TORONTO] – Catherine Abreu, Executive Director of Climate Action Network Canada, was chosen as one of Canada’s 2020 Clean50 today thanks to her work in the fight against climate change.

Canada’s Clean50 Awards (www.clean50.com) are announced annually by Delta Management Group and the Clean50 organization to recognize those individuals who have done the most to advance the cause of sustainability in Canada over the past 2 years. Catherine was chosen after rigourous screening and research by Delta Management, with advice from internal researchers and external advisors, and was among just 50 Honourees selected from an initial pool of approximately 750 very well qualified nominees from across Canada.

Catherine is being recognized for her work on behalf of Climate Action Network Canada in advocating for government, civil society, and private sector leadership in the climate crisis. She has brought together like-minded organizations and people who are ready and willing to fight to protect our climate.

“Building community and connecting organizations to collaborate at both the national and international level, Catherine has been an influential voice in ensuring that climate action is rooted in more than just the interests of government and business,” said Gavin Pitchford, CEO, Delta Management Group. “She’s quadrupled CAN’s budget and increased membership by 25 organizations, and founded the G7 Environment and Energy Working Group which connects 50 civil society organizations from around the globe. Catherine acted as the Head of Delegation for international civil society at the October 2018 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change meeting, playing an integral role in the release of the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 Degrees”

“As the stakes increase, as the urgency becomes impossible to ignore, we need more and more people to put aside their differences and work together on the most important issue of our lifetimes,” said Abreu. “That is why we are focussed on bringing people and organizations together, to put pressure on decision-makers to take significant political action, on behalf of all Canadians to address and solve climate change. I believe if we continue to raise our voices, we can carry that momentum to the ballot box this October.”

Climate Action Network Canada provides the space, resources, and coordination necessary to inspire a diversity of Canadian organizations interested in climate change to network and cooperate. The organization helps establish common goals between Canadians who care about climate change — and helps give them a unified voice that can influence policy development and decision-makers in municipal, provincial, and federal governments.

In October, Climate Action Network Canada will release a vote guide evaluating each of the major political parties’ policy positions on climate to help inform voters about their options ahead of Election Day. The 2019 federal election will take place on October 21.