More than 3,000 people marched through Bordeaux on Saturday, September 26, to call for immediate action on climate change. The demonstration took place amid the aftermath of severe wildfires that swept through the Gironde region this summer, destroying 42,000 hectares of land and forcing 250,000 people to leave their homes. Attendees discussed the effects of recurring heatwaves, the lack of adequate housing, and broader social justice concerns, with the wildfires serving as a central focus of the event. Estelle, one of the participants, shared how the wildfires marked a turning point in her involvement in climate activism. She grew up in the Landes and Le Porge, regions heavily impacted by the fires, and said the events of the summer deeply affected her. Charlotte, a 27-year-old with red hair, set up a makeup stall at the beginning of the march and noted that the wildfires had made the threat of climate change more immediate and real for many people. Christel Chaineaud, a former opposition member of the Bordeaux metropolitan council, criticized the current policies for failing to address the scale of the disaster. She pointed out the lack of resources for firefighters and the unchanged conditions by 2026. Chaineaud also stressed the need to place climate change back at the heart of political discussions, citing the 8,000 deaths linked to the recent heatwave as a stark reminder of the issue's urgency. The demonstration brought together families, children, and groups opposing various industrial projects in the Gironde region, including a salmon farm called Pure Salmon, a high-speed rail line known as LGV Bordeaux-Toulouse, a project called Flying Whales, the Emme refinery, and a surf park located 50 kilometers from the ocean. Blue Alma, a member of Extinction Rebellion, emphasized the importance of broadening the movement to include people of color, feminists, and religious individuals. Participants also acknowledged the trauma experienced by those who stayed in Bordeaux during the wildfires, with some calling for the events of the summer to be remembered. The march route passed near a cruise ship dock, where demonstrators chanted, "More firefighters, fewer cruise ships!" At the end of the march, a citizen assembly was held under the trees near Place de la Bourse, allowing participants to discuss the future of the movement. Laurent Favriot, a 71-year-old attendee, said the wildfires had reinvigorated the climate movement and expressed hope that the momentum would continue.