24 Global Recommendations on Nationality and Statelessness in the Context of Climate Change PART A Global Recommendations on Nationality and Statelessness in the Context of Climate Change 3. T HE NEXUS BETWEEN NATIONALITY AND STATELESSNESS AND THE ADVERSE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE PART A (b) Displaced persons and migrants at risk of statelessness Map 2: Risk factors for statelessness in the context of climate change — low birth registration rates and internal displacement brought on by weather-related hazards 3.6 Risks of loss of nationality and statelessness are most likely to arise in situations of climate-related migration and displacement within and across borders.19 From 2015 to 2025, disasters associated with the effects of climate and weather-related events, primarily floods and storms, triggered an annual average of some 27.4 million internal displacements of people worldwide, and this trend is expected to rise.20 Climate-related hazards also affect other drivers of displacement and migration through their interaction with a wide range of social, economic, political and demographic factors, including the potential to exacerbate social tensions and conflict between communities whose access to essential environmental resources is under increasing climate-related pressure.21 3. THE NEXUS BETWEEN NATIONALITY AND STATELESSNESS AND THE ADVERSE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE Birth registration rate of children under 5 Less than 25% 76% – 90% 25% – 50% Above 90% 51% – 75% Not available Average annual number of internal displacements brought on by weather-related hazards (2016-2025) 50K 500K 1.0M 1.5M 3.7 Displaced or migrant populations may be affected by loss of or damage to documents that help to prove their nationality, such as birth certificates or national identity documents. Those who are internally displaced may find themselves in protracted situations of displacement, during which proof of nationality documentation may be lost or left unrenewed, and children’s births left unregistered. 3.8 Individuals or groups that are displaced, or that migrate across international borders may be affected by similar documentation challenges as those that are internally displaced, as well as by gaps in or conflicts between nationality laws. This includes nationality laws that prevent women from conferring their nationality to their children born abroad, nationality laws that lack safeguards to grant nationality to children born on the territory who would otherwise be stateless, and nationality laws that make it possible for certain nationals to lose their nationality as a result of prolonged residence abroad, even where the loss could result in such nationals being left stateless. 3.9 Map 2 shows that low birth registration rates are found in many countries where internal displacements brought by weather-related hazards occur frequently and at scale. When taken together, these factors may increase the risk of statelessness, while other context-specific factors will also play a part. The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Note: Data excludes displacements brought on by earthquake, volcanic activity, dry mass movement, and mixed hazard types. Sources: IDMC, UNICEF 25