- Nauru, a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean, plans to sell its golden passports to foreign nationals for $105,000 each as part of a contentious initiative to fund its evacuation owing to rising sea levels caused by climate change.
- According to The Guardian, the country’s president, David Adeang, unveiled the new “golden passport” scheme on Tuesday, with the goal of securing financial resources for the island’s mass relocation in the face of an increasingly dire environmental threat.
Nauru, a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean, plans to sell its golden passports to foreign nationals for $105,000 each as part of a contentious initiative to fund its evacuation owing to rising sea levels caused by climate change.
According to The Guardian, the country’s president, David Adeang, unveiled the new “golden passport” scheme on Tuesday, with the goal of securing financial resources for the island’s mass relocation in the face of an increasingly dire environmental threat.
Nauru, with a population of 13,000 people, is considering a large-scale migration as a result of increasing sea levels.
The country will sell passports to foreign nationals for $105,000 each, granting them visa-free access to 89 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Hong Kong.
Nauru’s Response to Climate Change
According to sources, Nauru is one of the world’s smallest nations, covering only 21 square kilometers (8 square miles). As sea levels rise, Nauru struggles to keep its land.
The country’s president, Adeang, stated that this project is about more than just adjusting to climate change; it is also about ensuring a future for future generations. He stated:
“It’s about more than survival. It is about giving future generations a safe, resilient, and sustainable home.
Rising sea levels pose economic concerns
Edward Clark, the leader of Nauru’s Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program, indicated that present climate finance efforts are insufficient to meet the country’s demands. With limited space and resources, the government hopes to raise $5.7 million in the first year of the citizenship program, based on approximately 66 successful applications.
The country intends to expand this revenue to $43 million in the future, which would account for almost 20% of overall government revenues.
Controversy and security issues
According to reports, Nauru’s citizenship scheme has sparked concerns about criminal exploitation. Countries such as Vanuatu, Samoa, and Tonga have also implemented similar citizenship-for-investment systems, which have drawn criticism.
- According to The Guardian, Henrietta McNeill, a research fellow at the Australian National University, has cautioned that such programs might allow criminals to avoid law enforcement, launder money, or take advantage of visa-free immigration. Nauru previously faced a scandal in 2003, when it offered citizenship to al-Qaida members who were later apprehended in Asia.
- This time, Clark promised that the new scheme would include “strict and thorough due diligence procedures” to ensure that only responsible investors were awarded citizenship.
He continued, “This program isn’t simply about getting another passport. It’s about joining a community committed to pioneering answers to global concerns.”
Funding the relocation effort
The first phase of Nauru’s planned migration, which is projected to cost more than $60 million, will be funded primarily by the citizenship program. Clark described the program as an innovative response to the unique issues that climate-vulnerable countries face.
“There is an urgent need to ensure these countries disproportionately benefit from climate innovation,” said Mr. Obama.
The move is part of a larger strategy to relocate almost 90% of Nauru’s people to safer, higher land.
Previous problems and foreign relations
According to accounts, Nauru has previously received millions of dollars in help from the Australian government to detain refugees seeking asylum in Australia. However, this arrangement was significantly back due to human rights issues, including many deaths and suicide attempts. As of August 2024, Nauru still has 87 detainees under the offshore processing arrangement.
Despite the controversy, Nauru’s administration sees passport sales as a crucial step toward ensuring the country’s survival in the face of climate change.
