A Sinking Island's Bold Plan To Escape Rising Seas: Selling Passports
Nauru, a tiny Pacific island threatened by rising seas, is selling citizenship in a bold effort to fund climate resilience. The 'golden passport' initiative aims to raise money for relocating 90% of the nation's 12,500 residents to higher ground inland, a project far beyond the nation's financial means.
'We are the world's smallest republic with the world's biggest climate resilience vision,' said Edward Clark, CEO of the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program. 'The time for half-measures and incremental change has passed.'
(MORE: Climate Change Has Worsened Weather Disasters)
With king tides, storm surges and coastal erosion endangering its future, Nauru has partnered with consultant company Henley & Partners to design and run the program. According to the Henley & Partners website, a Nauru passport will cost "a minimum of $130,000 for a single applicant, $137,500 for a family of two to four members, or $145,000 for a family of five or more members," though additional fees may apply.
A Nauru passport grants travelers visa-free access to dozens of countries, including Ireland, Singapore, the UAE and the UK. Clark emphasized that only applicants who pass strict financial crime and security checks will be accepted. 'Our program is a way of opening Nauru to the world and enabling citizenship in a nation actively working towards climate resilience," said Clark.
(MORE: Extreme Weather Is Forcing Travelers To Change Plans)
With this initiative, Nauru is following the lead of Dominica, which has used citizenship sales to fund its goal of becoming the world's first climate-resilient nation by 2030. With traditional funding mechanisms falling short, Nauru's government believes this daring strategy could be key to its survival in an era of accelerating climate change.
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