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Director, International Climate Politics Hub: The SustainabilityX® Magazine's Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2024 Awardee
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"Bold leadership in sustainability means stepping into the unknown with courage and conviction, knowing that true progress comes from challenging the status quo. Embracing boldness has allowed me to push boundaries and drive the urgent changes our planet needs." - Catherine Abreu, Director, International Climate Politics Hub, Canada & The SustainabilityX® Magazine's Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2024 (#SustXGlobal50) Awardee
Catherine Abreu has long been at the forefront of climate justice and sustainable energy advocacy, and her latest career shift marks an exciting new chapter in her impactful journey. As the Director of the International Climate Politics Hub (ICPH), Catherine leads a global network of high-impact organizations and individuals driving climate action in the diplomatic arena. ICPH, part of the international programme at the European Climate Foundation (ECF), exemplifies her unparalleled expertise in diplomacy, coalition-building, and strategic communication.
Recognized as one of the world’s top 100 climate policy influencers by Apolitical, Catherine’s influence in shaping international climate discourse is profound. Her work with ICPH builds on a career dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in climate diplomacy. Catherine’s ability to bridge diverse coalitions has helped amplify voices for climate justice, with a focus on addressing the systemic roots of the climate crisis.
Catherine has previously served as the Founder and Executive Director of Destination Zero, where she championed the inclusion of fossil fuel accountability in international climate policy. She played a pivotal role in ensuring that "fossil fuels" were explicitly mentioned in COP agreements for the first time, a milestone in global climate discussions. As the Executive Director of Climate Action Network Canada, she led campaigns that brought Canada’s climate policies into sharper focus, advocating for aggressive net-zero targets and equitable energy transitions. Her leadership has directly influenced Canada’s climate action, including her role on the Net-Zero Advisory Body, where she provides expert advice to the government on pathways to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Beyond her organizational leadership, Catherine’s impact extends to public advocacy and media. Her commentary and insights have been featured on CBC, BBC, CNN, and Al Jazeera, as well as in major publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Financial Times. A compelling public speaker, she has shared the stage with leading environmental thinkers and policymakers, amplifying the urgency of climate action on the global stage.
Catherine’s commitment to equity and justice is woven into every aspect of her work. Her leadership in creating Canada’s Affordability Action Council exemplifies her dedication to addressing the intersection of climate action and social justice. The Council’s flagship report, Making Ends Meet, has shifted narratives that pit affordability against climate action, highlighting policy solutions that simultaneously address housing, food security, and transit needs while ensuring a livable climate.
Over the course of her career, Catherine has been celebrated for her transformative contributions. She was honoured as Canada’s Walk of Fame National Hero in 2023, recognized for her diplomatic and communications expertise. In 2020, she received the Jack Layton Progress Prize for her international leadership on climate policy, and in 2018, she was inducted into Canada’s Clean50 for her groundbreaking work in sustainability.
Receiving The SustainabilityX® Magazine Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2024 holds deep meaning for Catherine. Personally, it serves as a testament to her unwavering dedication to advancing bold climate action and fostering collaboration on a global scale. Professionally, it reinforces the impact of her work in shaping the narrative around climate justice, equity, and international diplomacy. This recognition amplifies her mission and provides a platform to continue advocating for a fossil-free, sustainable future while inspiring others to take bold, transformative action.
Based in the unceded territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation in Ottawa, Canada, Catherine’s personal life reflects her values. She shares her home with her partner and their tiny dog, grounding her global impact in a sense of community and connection. Catherine Abreu’s story is one of bold leadership, transformative advocacy, and an unwavering commitment to securing a sustainable and just future for all.
The SustainabilityX® Magazine Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2024
The SustainabilityX® Magazine proudly presents its third edition of the Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ for 2024. This annual recognition celebrates extraordinary female leaders who embrace boldness in their pursuit of groundbreaking sustainability initiatives, reshaping industries, and driving transformative change towards a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future.
This year also marks a broader strategic mission expansion for The SustainabilityX® Magazine, with a stronger focus on aligning with the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in addition to the original foundation of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This evolutionary expansion reflects the magazine’s ongoing commitment to advancing women's leadership in sustainability while championing social equity, environmental stewardship, and inclusive growth.
“Empowering women to lead in sustainability is at the heart of our mission,” says Supriya Verma, founder of The SustainabilityX® Magazine and one of Corporate Knights' Canada’s Top 30 Under 30 in Sustainability Leadership and one of The Peak's Emerging Leaders. “These trailblazers are breaking barriers and redefining what sustainable leadership looks like—showing that it’s about more than policies and practices, but also about social justice, economic resilience, and a regenerative future.”
Rooted in the magazine's guiding pillars of environmental protection, economic prosperity, social inclusion, and ethical governance, The SustainabilityX® Magazine's Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ showcases women from all sectors, industries, and regions, igniting crucial conversations on the intersection of gender equality and sustainable development.
Amidst global challenges and uncertainties, this year’s awards highlight the critical role of women in steering the world towards a more resilient, equitable future. With a continued digital format, the awards amplify voices across borders, bridging the gap between global sustainability efforts and local impact.
As Verma states, “The future of sustainability hinges on bold, inclusive leadership, and these women exemplify the courage and vision needed to transform our world. The SustainabilityX® Magazine remains steadfast in our mission to celebrate and elevate those who are shaping a future where every voice counts and every effort contributes to a thriving, sustainable world.”
View the full list: The SustainabilityX® Magazine Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards 2024
Read the full press release: The SustainabilityX® Magazine Announces 3rd Annual Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ Under the Theme "Embrace Boldness"
About The SustainabilityX® Magazine
The SustainabilityX® Magazine is an award-winning, digital, female-founded, and female-led non-profit initiative bringing the environment and economy together for a sustainable future through dialogue, and now transforming the environment and economy for a sustainable future through the power of women's leadership. Founded on May 8, 2016, and inspired by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by Canada's Top 30 Under 30 in Sustainability Leadership awardee, Supriya Verma, the digital media initiative focuses on approaching the world's most pressing challenges with a holistic, integrated, systems-based perspective as opposed to the traditional and ineffective siloed approach with a single lens on interdisciplinary topics like climate and energy. This initiative ultimately seeks to explore how to effectively bring the environment and economy together through intellectual, insightful dialogue and thought-provoking discussion amongst individuals across sectors taking an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to untangling the intricate web of sustainability while championing women's leadership in sustainability.
The SustainabilityX® Magazine is built upon the four foundational pillars of sustainability: Environmental Stewardship, which emphasizes the importance of improving environmental health; Economic Prosperity, which promotes sustainable economic growth that transcends traditional capitalist models; Social Inclusion, which focuses on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) for BIPOC, LGBTQ, and other marginalized or vulnerable communities; and Just Governance, which highlights responsible leadership, the equal application of the rule of law, and the creation of fair systems for all.
As we expand our mission to align with the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), we continue to explore the diverse and interconnected factors that influence sustainability. By recognizing how these elements interact across local, national, and international levels, we aim to accelerate progress toward sustainability goals. In essence, this aligns with The SustainabilityX® Magazine's vision of integrating environmental and economic progress for a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future through thoughtful dialogue.
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The SustainabilityX® Magazine is a proud member of the Sustainable Journalism Partnership, serves as a cause-based media partner for various events such as WIRED Impact, and officially delivers remarks at international conferences such as UNESCO's annual World Press Freedom Day Conference.
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