Catherine Abreu is an internationally recognized, award-winning campaigner whose work centres on building powerful coalitions to advance transformative action on climate change. One of the world’s 100 most influential people in climate policy as named by Apolitical in 2019, she has over 15 years of experience campaigning on environmental issues including 7 years in the heart of the global climate movement.
Catherine is the Executive Director of Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat (CAN-Rac) Canada. Canada’s primary network of organizations working on climate change and energy issues, CAN-Rac is a coalition of more than 100 organizations operating from coast to coast to coast. For 30 years, CAN-Rac has been the only national organization with a mandate to promote the interests of the Canadian climate movement as a whole, rather than any one individual organization. Catherine joined CAN-Rac Canada in July 2016, after five years leading the energy and climate programs at the Ecology Action Centre, Atlantic Canada’s longest-running environmental advocacy organization. She is also the former Coordinator of the Atlantic Canada Sustainable Energy Coalition (ACSEC).
Catherine is committed to work that confronts climate change head-on, wielding bold and creative strategies. She thinks a lot about citizenship, community, and beauty, and does her best to incorporate these values in all that she does.
An accomplished public speaker, Catherine has been honoured to share the stage with some of Canada’s leading environmental thinkers including David Suzuki and Maude Barlow. Her commentary has featured in many news outlets including the New York Times, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and the Financial Post. She appears frequently on CBC, CTV, Global and other current affairs television and radio programs.
Catherine is a dedicated collaborator and community organizer. In the last decade, she has founded and/or supported the work of nine distinct coalitions in the realms of environmental and arts advocacy.
