Civil society members attending climate talks in Lima, Peru, moved from the conference rooms to the streets of Lima to participate in the People’s Climate March. The march brought together thousands of climate activists from around the world and Peru.

The demonstration of people power in Lima is the continuation of a series of actions that have taken place in more than 160 countries. Although not a formal part of the negotiations, the march demonstrates the importance of climate change to ordinary citizens in Peru and throughout the world.

“Negotiators should look at this and understand that people from different parts of Peruvian society want much faster action on climate change,” said Samantha Smith, leader of WWF’s Global Climate and Energy Initiative. “This is a region where people are losing their lives and livelihoods because of climate change.”