Women Leading on Climate

Fresh from COP 30 in Brazil, climate leader Catherine Abreu joins host Catherine McKenna to break down what's really happening in global climate negotiations. They explore why women and Indigenous peoples are driving the most effective climate solutions, how to maintain hope when progress feels slow, and why joy isn't just nice to have—it's essential for staying in the fight. A conversation about power, perseverance, and the collective action that's actually moving the needle on climate change.

Listen in as Catherine McKenna speaks with Ingrid Reumert, Senior Vice President at Ørsted, about the critical role women play in climate action and the renewable energy transition. They discuss the challenges and opportunities in the energy sector, the importance of business leadership in climate initiatives, and the need for regulatory innovation. Ingrid shares her insights on self-care for climate leaders and the significance of empowering the next generation of women leaders.Subscribe to our podcast! Follow us on Instagram at @womenleadingonclimateWatch the full interviews on the Women Leading on Climate YouTube channel.This episode was recorded on Riverside.fm in the Fall 2025.

From student activists to senior legal strategists, the climate litigation movement is gaining unprecedented momentum. In this episode, Catherine McKenna speaks with two remarkable women using the law as a powerful tool for climate accountability.Sophia Mathur, an 18-year-old climate activist from Sudbury, shares her journey from drawing pictures for politicians at age eight to becoming the lead plaintiff in a landmark youth climate lawsuit against the Ontario government. Now starting university, Sophia reflects on how a childhood pinky promise with Catherine sparked years of activism—from launching Canada's first Fridays for Future climate strikes to partnering with Ecojustice to hold the Ford government legally accountable for backtracking on climate commitments.Laura Clarke, CEO of ClientEarth, on how strategic litigation can accelerate climate action. She discusses ClientEarth's work tackling greenwashing in aviation and fossil fuels, enforcing the polluter pays principle, and supporting the historic International Court of Justice advisory opinion initiated by Pacific Island students. Laura explains how attribution science is strengthening climate cases, why targeting the "enablers" of fossil fuel expansion matters, and how legal precedents—even in cases that don't succeed—are shifting corporate behaviour and government accountability worldwide.These conversations reveal why litigation has become essential to climate action—and how advocates of all ages are using the law to demand the future we need.Subscribe to our podcast! Follow us on Instagram at @womenleadingonclimateWatch the full interviews on the Women Leading on Climate YouTube channel.This episode was recorded on Riverside.fm in the Fall 2025.

In this episode Catherine talks with two powerhouse Indigenous leaders—Valérie Courtois  from Canada and Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim from Chad—about why Indigenous-led climate action isn't just important, it's essential.We dig into Indigenous guardians on the frontlines, how climate finance needs to reach the communities doing the work, and turning wildfire challenges into opportunities. Valerie and Hindu bring the goods on culture, land stewardship, and why women are leading the charge in their communities.It's all about interconnectedness—nature, climate, knowledge—and why listening to Indigenous voices is key if we want real climate solutions. Urgent, hopeful, and packed with wisdom.Subscribe to our podcast! Follow us on Instagram at @womenleadingonclimateWatch the full interviews on the Women Leading on Climate YouTube channel.This episode was recorded on Riverside.fm in the Fall 2025.

In this episode Catherine is joined by Gina McCarthy, Former White House "Czarina" & head of America's All In. Gina is tough, funny, and all about delivery! We dig into how to turn targets into action—build coalitions, speak like a human (health, jobs, fairness), and stay hopeful while acting with a backbone. So many awesome stories from Kigali to the West Wing! Follow us Instagram at @womenleadingonclimateWatch this episode on the Women Leading on Climate YouTube channel.This episode was recorded on Riverside.fm in August 2025.