14 Global Recommendations on Nationality and Statelessness in the Context of Climate Change PART A 1. INTRODUCTION Global Recommendations on Nationality and Statelessness in the Context of Climate Change PART A 1 1. INTRODUCTION Introduction Rationale for the Global Recommendations 1.1 Every person has the right to a nationality*.2 Statelessness, or the condition of lacking the nationality of any State,3 affects millions of people globally.4 In practice, having a nationality acts as the gateway to the enjoyment of other human rights,5 including the right to health, education, employment, and freedom of movement. This is why being stateless has such a severe impact on those it affects.6 Under the adverse and growing impacts of climate change, the vulnerability of stateless persons is being exacerbated, which may be related to both their lack of nationality and associated rights, and lack of capacity to adapt to climate-related hazards. At the same time, climate change impacts are increasing conditions under which people in some situations risk losing their nationality and becoming stateless. These effects have far-reaching implications for the enjoyment of human rights and the resilience of people in highly climate-vulnerable situations. 1.2 Despite this, the relationship between climate change, nationality and statelessness remains underexplored and often unrecognized in relevant law, policy and measures that can play an important role in identifying and protecting stateless persons, as well as reducing and preventing statelessness. Likewise, laws, policies, and plans that are focused on addressing climate change and its adverse impacts rarely recognize the nexus between climate change, nationality, and statelessness. *Terms defined in the Glossary are italicized and linked to the Glossary the first time they are mentioned 15