6 Global Recommendations on Nationality and Statelessness in the Context of Climate Change Global Recommendations on Nationality and Statelessness in the Context of Climate Change FOREWORD FOREWORD Foreword Climate change is not only an environmental crisis; it is an increasingly urgent protection crisis for people in highly vulnerable situations. As climate impacts intensify, they are placing growing pressure on communities and national systems. Among those most at risk are stateless people, who already face profound barriers to the full enjoyment of their human rights because they are not recognized as nationals by any State. The effects of climate change are deepening their exclusion and insecurity. Climate-related displacement and migration, loss of documentation during disasters, and gaps in birth registration and nationality laws may also increase the risk of people becoming stateless. Sea level rise and loss of territory is raising broader questions about the continuity of statehood, particularly for low-lying island countries. As these Global Recommendations highlight, the growing recognition of the continuity of statehood provides an important framework for addressing concerns about nationality. It supports efforts to ensure that people affected by climate impacts continue to enjoy the rights and protection that nationality provides. Nationality is far more than a legal status. It underpins a person’s identity, rights, protection, and sense of belonging. As climate impacts reshape the world around us, timely action must be taken to mitigate risks of statelessness and ensure that those who are already stateless are not left even further behind. These Global Recommendations on Nationality and Statelessness in the Context of Climate Change are an important step in addressing that challenge. Developed jointly by the Peter McMullin Centre on Statelessness and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, they are firmly grounded in international law, including the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions, and draw upon UNHCR’s statelessness mandate. Informed by extensive consultations, they provide practical guidance for governments and other stakeholders to prevent and reduce statelessness, protect stateless people, and safeguard the right to nationality in the face of growing climate impacts. The implementation of these Global Recommendations in different regional, national, and local contexts will require urgent and increased access to finance, political commitment, sustained cooperation, and investment in national capacity. It will also require the meaningful participation of affected communities, whose experience and leadership are essential to developing effective responses and sustainable outcomes. I encourage governments and all partners to draw on these Global Recommendations as they strengthen national laws, policies, and practice. Together, we must ensure that every person adversely affected by climate change can retain or acquire a nationality and enjoy the dignity, rights, and protection that nationality makes possible. Barham Salih United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 7