8 Global lobal Recommendations on Nationality and Statelessness in the Context Climate of Change Recommendations on Nationality and Statelessness in theofContext Climate Change Global Recommendations on Nationality and Statelessness in the Context of Climate Change TITLE | Subtitle SUMMARY PART 1 SUMMARY Summary These Global Recommendations on Nationality and Statelessness in the Context of Climate Change (‘Global Recommendations’) respond to an urgent but under-recognized nexus between climate change, nationality, and statelessness. Although every person has the right to a nationality, millions of people remain stateless or without a recognized nationality status, often with limited access to rights, services, and protection. The adverse and growing effects of climate change can deepen the existing vulnerabilities of stateless persons through the direct and cascading impacts of extreme weather and slow-onset hazards. These risks may be compounded where livelihoods and services are disrupted and stateless persons have limited capacities and face barriers to inclusion in climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and emergency preparedness, response and recovery measures. At the same time, the adverse impacts of climate change may create or heighten risks of loss of nationality and lead to new cases of statelessness, particularly in situations of displacement and migration within and across borders. These risks can arise where civil registration coverage is low or identity documents are lost, damaged or become inaccessible; where births go unregistered during periods of displacement; where nationality laws contain discriminatory provisions; or where laws and procedures do not adequately safeguard against loss or renunciation of nationality that would leave a person stateless. The Global Recommendations are grounded in international law and policy frameworks on the right to a nationality, the prevention and reduction of statelessness, human rights, climate change, disaster risk reduction, and human mobility. They are specifically guided by universally applicable principles in international law, including equality and non-discrimination, the right to life with dignity, the duty of international cooperation, and the right to participate. The Global Recommendations also recognize the growing recognition under international law — including by the International Court of Justice — of ‘continuity of statehood’ in the context of sea-level rise and resulting loss of territory. This calls for a focus on practical measures that States and other stakeholders can take now to identify and protect stateless persons, and to reduce and prevent statelessness in climate-vulnerable contexts. 9