As the world grapples with the looming climate crisis, Indigenous women at Climate Week – an event held jointly with the UN General Assembly in New York City – emerged as a beacon of hope with a clear call to action for advocates of climate justice worldwide.

Among the prominent voices in attendance this year were Brazilian Minister Sonia Guajajara, Samai Gualinga from Ecuador, and Olivia Bisa of Peru, supported by Amazon Watch and allies from across the Amazon. We all came together to amplify Amazonian Indigenous voices and demand urgent action to protect the rainforest and its Indigenous communities.

The urgency of this year’s Climate Week cannot be overstated. The Amazon, which we refer to as a “heart pump” for the Earth, is at a tipping point. Rampant deforestation, illegal logging, and mining on Indigenous lands have pushed this vital ecosystem to the brink. It’s a stark reminder that the effects of climate change are not some distant future threat – they are here, and they are now.

Indigenous and frontline leaders were there to shine a spotlight on these critical issues and the need to protect and defend the Amazon by recognizing Indigenous land rights.