Climate Refugees

Michael Nash and his documentary Climate Refugees: The Human Face of Climate Change examines how humans across the globe are being displaced by the effects of climate change. This documentary delves into the challenges that people face when they are forced from their homeland and forced to seek refuge, and it highlights challenges such as conflicts at border crossings or over natural resources along with intriguing commentary on humanities basic level of kindness and compassion when faced with danger. 

A person who is displaced from their region by encroaching climatic and ecological change, such as droughts, crop failure, desertification, rising sea levels, and other incidences of extreme weather such as freezing temperatures and extreme flooding, is described as a climate refugee. 

These events undoubtedly effect human lives, and with increasing climate disruption in the years to come, it could potentially create a mass climate migration like never seen before, with conflict over resources and at national barriers as people and seek more livable climates.   

Accordingly, 'climate change' is now considered a national security risk by the Pentagon. Research by the UN shows that there are currently more refugees displaced by environmental disasters than by war, at an incredible 25 million. t 25million. Cause for concern, as the UN predicts that this number will double within 5 years. 

The idea of a 'climate war' or 'resource war' is not far from the thoughts of policy makers and NGOs throughout the world. It seems that regardless of how powerful and immune we think our civilisation is - it is certainly not as powerful as the forces of our planet. The impact of climate change will soon be felt by some of the most vulnerable sections of the world, and we must start acting now to seek solutions.