Climate Refugees is the first feature film to explore in-depth the global human impact of climate change and its serious destabilizing effect on international politics. The film turns the distant concept of global warming into a concrete human problem with enormous worldwide consequences.
Experts predict that by mid-century hundreds of millions of people will be uprooted as a result of sea level rise and an increase in extreme weather events, droughts and desertification. Little is being done to plan for the potential mass migration of millions of refugees who will be forced to cross national borders. According to the UN, there are already more environmental refugees in the world than political or religious refugees. The Pentagon now considers climate change a national security risk and the phrase “climate wars” is being talked about in war-rooms.
The filmmakers traveled the world for nearly 3 years to document the impact of climate change, witnessing inhabitants of countries forced to leave their homes by climatic events with little or no protection. The film features a variety of leading scientists, relief workers, security consultants, and major political figures, including John Kerry and Newt Gingrich. All make a strong case that, whether human-caused or a product of nature, the changing climate is already creating humanitarian disasters and will inevitably lead to worldwide political instability.
"STARRED REVIEW. Beautifully shot, with high quality visuals and sound. Computer graphics enhance the content, giving a visual representation of the changing face of the world, including the shrinking of vegetation in Africa and the projected rising coastlines of Florida. Although the film is lengthy, it is nicely divided into chapters that each focus on a single region, making it very usable in classroom situations. Educators will find countless discussion starters in this valuable resource, and motivated students may find inspiration." — School Library Journal
"The film’s heart-wrenching accounts chronicle the impacts on people. The factual analysis by experts...add credence to the view that policy decisions made now can reduce the impact on populations-at-risk, as well as entire ecosystems. Highly recommended for senior high school students or for adult classes." — Green Teacher Magazine
"Recommended. A powerful documentary that should spark significant debate on the human consequences of our changing climate. Shifts the climate change debate away from meteorological considerations and into a political and economic framework, arguing that what's at stake here ultimately is the security of all nations...." — Video Librarian
“Climate Refugees fervently captures the human fallout of climate change. Strong visuals and potent testimony…help sound the alarm for instituting new policies and working together to create solutions to cope with this imminent crisis.” — Sundance Film Festival
“With leading researchers and high profile political figures, Climate Refugees presents a swell of compelling opinion about the challenges (climate) change puts on the global populations.” — Variety
“After watching Michael Nash's eye opening documentary, you quickly begin to understand that our own national security is threatened by events happening both within and outside our borders. Nash has raised a very dark red flag; now, it is up to all of us to heed his warning.” — Moving Pictures Magazine
“A must see film that puts the human soul in the science of climate change….A resounding wakeup call for every human being….” — Sherry Quinn, National Public Radio
Citation
Main credits
Nash, Michael P. (screenwriter)
Nash, Michael P. (film producer)
Nash, Michael P. (film director)
Hogan, Justin (film producer)
Other credits
Editors, Michael P. Nash, Brett Langefels, Nancy Frazen; director of photography, Michael P. Nash; music, Michael R. Mollura.
Global Studies,Climate Change,Environmental Studies,Climate Science,Immigration,China,Fiji,Chad,Sudan,Kenya,African Studies,Oceania Studies; "Climate Refugees"; The Video Project
Distributor: The Video Project
Length: 86 minutes
Date: 2009
Genre: Expository
Language: English
Grade: Grade 9 and up
Color/BW:
Closed Captioning: Available
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