Here in New York, thousands of people marched through the streets Friday to demand urgent action on the climate crisis, as world leaders wrapped up the U.N. General Assembly. It was one of 450 climate strike demonstrations held worldwide by the youth-led climate movement Fridays for Future. This is Nemonte Nenquimo, an Indigenous activist from Ecuador’s Amazon region and winner of the 2020 Goldman Environmental Prize.

Nemonte Nenquimo: “As female defenders living in the community, we come to make visible our struggle, because it’s very important people out there, such as in New York, understand our struggle, our need to defend ourselves. Our forest is our home, and we love and respect it. Also, we contribute life to the world — air.”