Climate Change and Birth Registration: A Deepening Crisis in Asia and Africa

Birth registration is a fundamental human right, crucial for a child’s recognition and access to essential services. Without a birth certificate, children can miss out on essential services like healthcare and education and may be vulnerable to risks such as child marriage, labor exploitation, or even military conscription. Yet, climate change-induced natural and humanitarian disasters are intensifying the challenges to birth registration systems in Asia and Africa, where infrastructure and resources disparities are stark.

One of the most immediate impacts of climate-related disasters is the displacement of populations. Families forced to flee their homes often find themselves in new locations without the necessary documentation to register births. This displacement can disrupt existing birth registration systems, making it difficult for families to access these essential services. In Kenya, persistent droughts and food scarcity compel families to move to areas that are ill-equipped with the necessary infrastructure to support new arrivals. Consequently, many children born under these circumstances go unregistered, which can render them invisible to the state and vulnerable to further marginalization.

Floods, hurricanes, and droughts damage the infrastructure, including government buildings and archives, needed for birth registration. When these facilities are damaged or destroyed, existing birth records are lost, and the registration of new births are severely hampered. In the aftermath of a disaster, the immediate focus is often on urgent needs like food, shelter, and medical care, pushing birth registration to the back burner. In Bangladesh, flooding and cyclones make it difficult for families to access birth registration services, with many births in rural areas remaining unregistered due to the inaccessibility of registration centers during and after natural disasters.

Natural disasters bring more than just immediate destruction; they also usher in a host of health complications, especially for those forced to flee their homes. The surge in both infectious and chronic illnesses can overwhelm medical services, shifting focus from routine operations such as recording births. In nations like the Philippines, which are regularly battered by storms and intense precipitation, these health issues can intensify pre-existing weaknesses in the systems for registering births.

Economic difficulties arising from climate-induced disasters can intensify the pressure on birth registration systems. As governments in Asia and Africa grapple with budget cuts, funding for these essential systems may be reduced. This can complicate the process for families who are already struggling with other critical needs to ensure birth registration.

Political unrest and conflict can also disrupt these systems, making it dangerous for families to seek registration services. In Pakistan, political instability and conflicts have significantly disrupted civil registration services. This disruption makes it perilous for families to obtain birth registration services, resulting in lower registration rates. Similarly, Myanmar’s persistent ethnic conflicts and political disturbances have obstructed access to birth registration, especially affecting minority groups who face additional barriers. The ongoing civil war in South Sudan has also devastated the nation’s ability to sustain effective birth registration systems, undermining a fundamental aspect of civil governance.

To fortify birth registration systems against climate adversity in Asia and Africa, digital and mobile platforms, healthcare integration, localized services, secure data storage, staff training, awareness campaigns, inclusive policies for refugees and migrants, disaster preparedness, and record reconstruction protocols are recommended. These measures aim to safeguard legal identities and uphold the Sustainable Development Goal of universal birth registration by 2030.