Climate change is a planetary phenomenon that will impact all people in all countries with heat waves, droughts, rising sea levels, and extreme storms.

But the effects of this climate crisis will be felt the most by women.

That’s because women are more likely to live in poverty than men, have less access to basic human rights like the ability to freely move and acquire land, and face systematic violence that escalates during periods of instability.

But these are the same women whose voices are muffled by the widespread inaction on the climate crisis by wealthier nations (who, by and large, have contributed far more to global warming than others).

We met with Salma Zulfiqar, the director who is trying to change that. Her short animated film The Migration Blanket was created to show the true impact of global warming on marginalized women around the world.

Why did you get into the business of telling women’s climate stories?
Climate change is one of the biggest killers on our planet today in terms of health and natural disasters. Many women I work with and many forgotten underprivileged communities don't know what climate change is and how it will impact them in the future.

Many women said they thought the changes in weather patterns were "an act of God". Through the creative learning in ARTconnects, I am opening their minds to the climate crisis and encouraging them to take action to help save lives and save our planet.

What’s the title of the film ‘The Migration Blanket - Climate Solidarity’ all about?
Many people have been uprooted due to climate change. In fact, weather-related incidents left almost 25 million people homeless in 140 countries in 2019, according to UNHCR. I've personally witnessed many people from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East displaced by climate change. For many of those people who are displaced and homeless, I've seen how the blanket is a source of comfort. Hence, The Migration Blanket.

I am a participatory artist, which means I work with marginalized, refugee, and migrant women and LGBTQ+ people, many of whom are isolated and vulnerable, and teach them about global issues. Climate solidarity refers to these women and myself showing our solidarity with climate activism in order to better protect women who are on the front line of the climate crisis.

Read the full article about The Migration Blanket by Sesina Hailou at Global Citizen.