A climate advisory firm with global reach.
With our deep experience we help a diverse set of clients:
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Advance ambitious climate action by helping clients to identify risks and opportunities in the global shift towards net zero
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Accelerate the energy transition by building strategies to rapidly scale clean technology solutions in new and emerging markets
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Identify opportunities to advance effective public policy
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Develop ambitious high-integrity net zero transition plans
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Create multi-stakeholder coalitions/campaigns to advance specific objectives
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Scale the protection of nature worldwide including in partnership with Indigenous Peoples
Our Impact
We have worked with cleantech companies to secure new partnerships and have advised large corporations with renewable energy solutions and in hard-to-decarbonize sectors on opportunities to scale action.
We have partnered with large institutional investors to highlight case studies of climate action aligned with net zero. We have advanced net zero integrity and accountability, most recently with the creation of a new international task force to support governments as they pursue ambitious climate policy.
And working with major conservation organizations, we have helped secure some of the largest indigenous-led nature conservation agreements in the world.
Meet our Team
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Catherine McKenna
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Catherine McKenna is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Climate and Nature Solutions. She is Canada's former Minister of Environment and Climate Change as well as Minister of Infrastructure. She is Chair of the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero Commitments of Non-State Entities which released its Integrity Matters report at COP 27 in Egypt in 2022 setting out criteria for net zero commitments of business, financial institutions, cities and regions. She founded Women Leading on Climate, is a Visiting Professor in Practice at the Grantham Research Institute at the London School of Economics and a Visiting Scholar at UCLA’s Law’s Emmett Institute, and was a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at Columbia Climate School. She is an advisor to the Climate Data Steering Committee for the Macron/Bloomberg Net Zero Data Public Utility, Singapore's International Advisory Panel for Carbon Credits, the Taskforce on Net Zero Policy, the LSE Just Transition Finance Lab, as well as to the University of Ottawa's Information Integrity Lab. Catherine was named Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d’Honneur by the French government in recognition of her contribution to the landmark Paris Agreement and named an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society for her public service and commitment to environmental conservation and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree from McMaster University. She also advises many private sector boards and is a frequent speaker on climate action, net zero leadership and women empowerment. She is a mother to three children and is an avid open water swimmer.
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As Canada’s former Minister of Environment and Climate Change she was a lead negotiator of the Paris Agreement (Article 6 on carbon markets). She successfully negotiated Canada’s first comprehensive climate change plan including a coal phase out and a price on carbon across Canada — a policy successfully upheld at the Supreme Court. She brought in Canada's new Impact Assessment Act for the review of major projects, led efforts to ban single use plastics, and doubled the amount of nature protected in Canada in partnership with Indigenous Peoples. Internationally she helped establish the Powering Past Coal Coalition, the Ministerial on Climate Action and the Nature Champions Summit, and was Co-Chair of the World Bank's Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition.
As Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, she led Canada's historic investments in public transit and green infrastructure, leveraged private sector investment in sustainable infrastructure through the Canada Infrastructure Bank, and launched Canada’s first National Infrastructure Assessment to drive to net-zero emissions by 2050.
Prior to entering politics, Catherine practiced corporate, trade and anti-trust law at leading firms in Canada and Indonesia, worked as lead negotiator on the Timor Sea Treaty with the UN Peacekeeping Mission to East Timor and founded Canadian Lawyers Abroad (now Level Justice). She studied at the University of Toronto, the London School of Economics and McGill Law School and is called to the Bars of New York and Ontario.
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Techonomy 2022 (Mountain View, California)
“How Policy can spur Climate Innovation”Aspen Ideas Climate (Miami)
“A blueprint for saving the planet. How we can cut the bickering and cut methane”Responsible Business Alliance
“At the Intersection of Human Rights and the Environment”United Nations COP 22 (Egypt)
“Integrity Matters: Net Zero commitments by business, financial institutions, cities and regions”National Bank Financial
“The state of play on net zero globally”Sustainable Kingston
“Building a net zero city”FT Climate Capital conference (London)
“Business in Action - How Businesses Can Take Practical Steps and Plan Out Effective Transitions to Net-Zero”Global Citizen Summit (NYC)
“Private Sector Call to Action on Net Zero”Aviva Canada (Niagara-on-the-Lake)
“Leadership in the Net Zero Transition”Ecosperity (Singapore)
“Global cooperation around net-zero pledges for real action”Global Cement Association (Zurich)
“The net-zero transition - Delivering, Leveraging & Prospering”Canadian Medical Association (Ottawa)
Building a Movement Towards a Net Zero Health System in CanadaAssociation of Municipalities of Ontario (London)
“Municipalities on the frontlines of climate change: Opportunities for innovation in the path towards climate mitigation and adaptation”NYC Climate Week
“Restoration, conservation, and biodiversity protection: The understated climate powerhouse”IKEA Actions Speak Summit (NYC)
“A New Era in Climate Communications”The United Association of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry (Vancouver)
“The opportunity of building a cleaner future with growth, good jobs and innovation”Canada 2020 (Ottawa)
Canada’s progress on net zero and the work aheadSustainable Finance Forum
Toronto Regional Board of Trade
“Building today for a Clean Energy Future”Canada’s High Commission to the UK
“Building the Resilience of Democracies through Women’s Political Participation”Student Energy Summit (Dubai)
“Lessons learned on Net Zero and what do young leaders need to keep in mind when working with the private sector”COP 28 (Dubai)
“Leveraging the Transformative Power of Markets to Future-proof the Economy”United Nations Secretary General event (Dubai)
“Net Zero Accountability”DLA Piper (Dubai)
“The Clean Transition: Climate, Sustainability & ESG disclosure and reporting”One Planet Sovereign Wealth Fund (Dubai)
“Financing Climate Solutions”Commonwealth Secretariat (London)
“Online Harassment and Violence Perpetrated Against Women Parliamentarians”MacMillan Lecture (Trinity College)
“Where Change comes from: My time in Politics, the Paris Agreement and the Future of Climate Action”Borea Construction Annual Conference
“We can win the future”HEC Montreal
“Net zero”University of Waterloo, Hub for Sustainability Integration Conference
“We Can Win the Future”Ecosperity Singapore/GenZero
Montreal Climate Summit
“How do we move from vision to action: Implementing the transition”Atlantik-Bruecke German-Canadian Conference (Berlin)
“The Politics of Net Zero: Achieving Ambitious Climate Cooperation: Canada and Germany”Citizen’s Climate Lobby
”Catalyzing Canada's transition into a leading force in clean technology”
Jane McDonald
Vice President
Jane McDonald is the Vice President of Climate and Nature Solutions. She joins the team having led two of Canada's major sustainable economy think tanks, Smart Prosperity and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). She is a member of Canada’s Generation Energy Council, which produced the first energy vision for Canada consistent with the country’s climate goals, and the Farmers for Climate Solutions Task Force. She is a Director of The Transition Accelerator, and a delegate to the Net-Zero Data Public Utility, the world’s first global repository for private sector climate transition-related data freely accessible to all.
Jane began her career in the private sector, launching new environmental markets at New York investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald where she brokered some of the first-ever carbon credit deals between large energy companies and international projects. She then directed a successful advocacy effort to have renewable electricity from major Canadian utilities included in President Obama’s Clean Power Plan.
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Jane began her career in the private sector, launching new environmental markets at New York investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald where she brokered some of the first-ever carbon credit deals between large energy companies and international projects. She then directed a successful advocacy effort to have renewable electricity from major Canadian utilities included in President Obama’s Clean Power Plan.
From 2015-2106 she served as Policy Director in the office of Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, through the signing of the Paris Agreement, the adoption of a national climate strategy and the implementation of a national price on carbon pollution.
In 2020, she joined an independent group of Canadian finance, policy and sustainability leaders who formed the Task Force for a Resilient Recovery, publishing a roadmap for a long-term COVID recovery strategy to keep Canada competitive in the fast-growing global clean economy.
Outside of her work, Jane has taught as an Adjunct Professor of Environmental Finance at the University of Toronto, served on the board of many non-profits, is a 2007-2008 Action Canada Fellow and a 2024 winner of the Clean50 Award.
Serena Rourke
Climate Associate
Serena is a dynamic climate professional with experience in both the private and public sectors. She has worked with climate technology and consulting companies, contributing to product development for climate risk management and carbon market intelligence tools, and has advised organizations on climate strategy, disclosure, and carbon project development.
Her extensive experience in climate policy and related regulatory standards has allowed her to work with a global clientele.
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Prior to working in private sector advisory roles, Serena worked for the Canadian federal government at Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC). While at ECCC, she worked on sustainable finance, green bonds, carbon pricing, and border carbon adjustments.
At GAC, she helped to negotiate environment chapters for multiple free trade agreements.
Serena holds a B.A. (Hons.) in Political Studies and Economics and an M.A. in International Affairs with a focus on global public policy.
Louise Imbeault
Executive Assistant
With an illustrious career spanning over 36 years, Louise Imbeault has established herself as a highly competent and dedicated Executive Assistant. Her journey began in the Canadian government’s Privy Council Office, where she honed her skills providing direct support to the Prime Minister and Cabinet across the range of functions and responsibilities. Louise's capabilities quickly propelled her to the role of Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff, a position she held with distinction until 1993.
Transitioning to Ministers Offices, Louise continued to demonstrate her exceptional administrative acumen over the next two decades, navigating complex political landscapes and complicated schedules. In 2012, Louise expanded her portfolio by taking on the role of scheduler for numerous ministers across a range of critical federal departments, including Foreign Affairs, Environment, Infrastructure, and National Defence. Her adept coordination and meticulous planning ensured the seamless operation at the highest levels of the federal government.
Louise now brings her extensive administrative experience and passion for environmental advocacy to Climate and Nature Solutions, where she manages a broad portfolio of administrative and strategic roles.