The CCAC welcomes Canada’s Rita Cerutti as its new Co-chair

Rita Cerutti, a senior official in the Government of Canada, and a veteran of international environmental affairs, is the new Co-chair of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition. Ms Cerutti has over 24 years of experience covering a realm of environment issues related to short lived climate pollutants, chemicals, climate change, clean air, ozone depletion, sustainable development and the Arctic.

Ms Cerutti said that she was entering the role at a time that was important to the growth and future direction of the CCAC. 

“I think that it is even more important now, in world that is framed by both the Paris Agreement and the SDGs, to take fast action to reduce short-lived climate pollutants. Mitigating SLCPs is an incredibly effective and pragmatic way to address climate issues as a complement to what we’re doing to reduce CO2,  and to tackle clean air and health goals at the same time” Ms Cerutti said. “Over the next five years, the CCAC will be focused on bringing about adoption and implementation of policies, regulations and practices to substantially reduce SLCPs.  So this is a really interesting time for the Coalition, particularly the role it can play in how to make action on SLCPs a policy priority”.

“I’m coming in at a time where the CCAC is no longer an infant, it is more like a teenager. And if you have, or have had, teenagers you can see their energy and potential! This is what I see in the CCAC. Now more than ever the timing is critical for the CCAC to act as a catalyst for ambitious action. And for this, Coalition partners must continue to work together with sufficient vision, speed and scale to ensure we move in the right direction. "

“I think in the future, whether it’s five years down the road, or ten years down the road, the CCAC will have been successful in the task that was given to it if is able to mainstream the reduction of SLCPs across the board. Into everything that we do. If the CCAC does that, then it will have succeeded in its work.”

Currently a senior official with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ms Cerutti has led Canada’s engagement in regional environmental cooperation mechanisms, and many of Canada’s bilateral partnerships, as well as Canada’s engagement in key international environment fora and initiatives.  She has also worked with the Government of the Northwest Territories, in non-government organizations, and has also taught economics.

“Reducing SLCPs is incredibly important for Canada, and we believe that the CCAC has a key role to play. We are a founding member and have been an active participant in the CCAC since day one,” Ms Cerutti said. “We see the CCAC as a catalyst for change, as a catalyst for action and that’s why the CCAC is important to us.”

Ms Cerutti replaces Norway’s Hanne Bjurstrom as Co-Chair of the CCAC. Chile’s Vice Minister of Environment, Marcelo Mena, holds the other Co-Chair position.