Climate Week took place in New York City during the last week of September, coinciding with the 79th U.N. General Assembly, attracting global activists demanding urgent climate action.

Indigenous leaders, including Chief Raoni and Patricia Gualinga from Ecuador, held a press conference to address the unprecedented crisis of wildfires and extreme droughts.

The Amazon rainforest is experiencing its worst fires in over 20 years, primarily driven by human activities linked to corporate interests and exacerbated by climate change and record droughts.

The Brazilian Space Research Agency reported over 346,000 fire hotspots in South America this year, surpassing previous records due to these human activities and climate factors.

Indigenous leaders showcased their vital role in climate advocacy, often facing threats to their safety as environmental defenders.

A report from Global Witness revealed that Indigenous people, who represent just 6% of the world's population, accounted for 43% of environmental defenders killed in 2023.

At Climate Week, Chief Raoni Metuktire emphasized the responsibility of non-Indigenous people in the ongoing destruction of the forest.

The National Indigenous Organization of the Brazilian Amazon released a report urging immediate international action to address the Amazon's crisis.

Amazon Watch collaborated with Amazonian Indigenous leaders to amplify their demands for land rights and climate justice ahead of COP30 in Brazil in 2025.

Amazon Watch and Indigenous leaders protested outside Citi's headquarters, criticizing its financial support of fossil fuel expansion and linking it to the Amazon crisis.

In response to the crisis, Amazon Watch launched an Amazon Fire Response Fund to provide immediate relief for affected communities.

As Climate Week concluded, Amazon Watch reaffirmed its commitment to prioritizing Indigenous leadership and frontline voices in the fight for climate justice.