The Founder and Executive Director of Destination Zero, Catherine Abreu, is an internationally recognized, award-winning campaigner whose work centres on building powerful coalitions to advance 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 10 years in the heart of the climate movement.

Ms Abreu was appointed as one of 14 Advisors to Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Body in early 2021. She also serves on the strategic advisory committee for the Global Gas and Oil Network, the steering committee of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, as well as the Board of the Black Environmental Initiative.

Ms Abreu served as the Executive Director of Canada’s Climate Action Network – Réseau action climat (CAN-Rac) from 2016 to 2021, and now sits on their Board of Directors. Prior to joining CAN-Rac, Catherine spent five years spearheading the energy and climate programs at the Ecology Action Centre, one of Atlantic Canada’s largest and longest-running environmental organizations. 

In 2020, Ms Abreu was awarded the Jack Layton Progress Prize for her international leadership on climate policy and action and her transformative work as Executive Director of CAN-Rac. She was inducted into Canada’s Clean50 in 2018.

Ms Abreu is a dedicated collaborator and community organizer. In the last decade, she has founded and supported the work of a dozen distinct coalitions in the realms of environmental and arts advocacy. An accomplished public speaker, Ms Abreu is honoured to have shared the stage with some of the world’s leading environmental thinkers. She has appeared on CBC, BBC, SkyNews, and other current affairs television and radio programs internationally and in Canada. She has been quoted in stories on climate and energy issues in the Associated Press, Bloomberg News, Agence France Presse, Reuters, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and many other Canadian and international news outlets.