Latest news with #AsterioAppi
RNZ News
18-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Nauru says deep sea mining and ocean conservation can coexist
Deep sea mining involves extracting potato size rocks called nodules - which are packed full of valuable metals - from the seafloor many kilometres deep. (file image) Photo: NOAA Ocean Exploration Ocean conservation and deep sea mining are not in conflict, Nauru's climate change minister has told leaders at the United Nations Ocean Conference. Asterio Appi said Nauru sees the extraction of metals from deep sea nodules as essential for the increased production of electricity as the world moves away from fossil fuels. "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development," Appi said. Nauru's climate change minister Asterio Appi Photo: Facebook / The Government of the Republic of Nauru Deep sea mining involves extracting potato size rocks called nodules - which are packed full of valuable metals - from the seafloor many kilometres deep. Earlier this month, Nauru updated its commercial agreement with Canadian mining group The Metals Company for deep sea mining in international waters. It comes at a time of increasing uncertainty in the deep sea mining industry with both the United States and International Seabed Authority (ISA) stating each offers a licencing pathway to mine the seabed in international waters. According to the UN's Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, Nauru is the fifth most vulnerable nation in the world. Appi said Nauru had financial needs to address issues related to climate change and economic instability. "Nauru considers that the sustainable use of our oceans must include the responsible recovery and extraction of these critical energy transition metals to ensure supply chain security," he said. Also read: The five-day Ocean Conference in Nice - co-hosted by France and Costa Rica - concluded on on Friday. One of the key aims was to get the High Seas Treaty ratified by 60 countries to bring it into force. Fifty countries had ratified it by Friday, with a dozen more promising to do so by the end of the year. Canadian mining group The Metals Company Photo: Facebook / The Metals Company Vanuatu's Climate Change Adaptation Minister Ralph Regenvanu told journalists that fossil fuel reduction did not feature enough at the conference. "It's the single greatest cause of the damage to the oceans that we're seeing now and we're not talking about it enough." He said the Pacific is living through a climate emergency every day. "You're recovering, you're coming to the next one, you're facing another one. You're preparing for something, for example a lot of people living on the cost can no longer access fresh water like they used to, so just basic things being affected. "Those of us who are the most climate vulnerable now are simply living the future that we're all going to get one day." Tuvalu's Prime Minister Feleti Teo said he was an "optimist by nature" and believed the conference had contributed to the climate change conversation. However, Teo said he wanted to see more action from the big emitters. "As a small island developing country, we don't have that influence to pressure them to change their policies, but we need to sustain the pressure and meeting of this sort give us that opportunity to continue to tell that story." He said the ocean means everything to the people of Tuvalu. New Zealand committed NZ$52 million dollars to strengthen ocean governance in the Pacific. But the country's environment and climate change ministry chief executive said Australia and New Zealand's fossil fuel expansion raises questions about their respect, or lack of it towards the ocean. "If Australia and New Zealand are going to expand oil and gas that sends a very strong signal that the agreements or decisions that they have made internationally are not upheld," Sivendra Michael said. "So who do we hold to account? Are there any government mechanisms that we can legislatively or through the judicial system, take them to court?" Michael said legislation is also needed to hold countries to account for trans-boundary waste, like if the Great Pacific Garbage Patch enters into a countries exclusive economic zone.
USA Today
08-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
You could buy citizenship to this tiny Pacific island for $105,000
You could buy citizenship to this tiny Pacific island for $105,000 Show Caption Hide Caption Want to move abroad? These are the best countries for remote workers. Here are seven countries with digital nomad visas if you're looking to move abroad. The small island nation of Nauru launched a new program selling citizenship to individuals and families in exchange for a six-figure contribution to its climate change initiatives. Facing rising sea levels and biodiversity loss, the low-lying atoll hopes to raise funds for climate resilience projects like solar energy installation and water security. If you dream of escaping to a tiny island in the South Pacific, you may just be in luck. The serene nation of Nauru recently launched a golden passport initiative selling citizenship with an investment starting at $105,000. Located in the Central Pacific, Nauru is home to under 12,000 people and spans just over eight miles to be the world's smallest independent republic, according to its government website. Along with a long history of Micronesian and Polynesian cultures who have lived there for over 3,000 years, the island is also rich in pristine beaches and marine life. However, all of that is under threat by climate change. As a low-lying atoll, Nauru is at a higher risk for rising sea levels and biodiversity loss, prompting the world's third-smallest nation to introduce the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference. "We stand on the frontlines of climate change, facing rising sea levels, intensifying storm surges, and accelerating biodiversity loss," Prime Minister Asterio Appi said in a news release. "The consequences of global warming are rendering Pacific Island states increasingly uninhabitable. By choosing Nauru's citizenship program, investors aren't merely securing their own future – they're investing in the future of our planet." Developed in collaboration with global residence and citizenship by investment firm Henley & Partners, the initiative offers a Nauruan passport in exchange for financial contribution to its climate change solutions. The Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program Office did not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment. "By mobilizing international investment, we can provide immediate, non-debt funding for climate resilience projects, offering a crucial financial lifeline for vulnerable nations while enabling investors to support global climate action," said Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, in a statement to USA TODAY. "Rethinking how private wealth and capital intersect with public survival is key to bridging the climate finance gap. Investment-based residence and citizenship programs have emerged as one such mechanism, channeling funds into adaptation, mitigation and sustainable development efforts in high-risk regions.' Here's what to know about Nauru's new golden passport program. What are the benefits of a Nauruan passport? Besides helping to fund Nauru's Higher Ground Initiative – which supports climate change mitigation efforts like solar energy installation, EV infrastructure, water security and affordable green housing – successful applicants also receive a Nauruan passport and dual citizenship in about three to four months, according to the program office website. "As a Nauru citizen, you will enjoy the benefits of a politically neutral passport, providing you with a valuable safeguard in times of global uncertainty," it states in a fact sheet. Passport holders get visa-free access to more than 89 destinations, including Singapore, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and several places in Polynesia – and can extend citizenship to family members for an added cost. There are also no minimum stay visa requirements to achieve dual citizenship. How much does it cost to get citizenship in Nauru? For a single applicant over the age of 18 years old with a clean personal background and proof of the source of funds, the contribution starts at $105,000, along with fees of $25,000 for the application, $10,000 for due diligence, and $500 for the passport itself. This totals $140,500 for one person, which is still significantly cheaper than Europe's popular golden visas – in Malta, one of the lower-cost options, the minimum investment starts at €182,000 (about $197,284). To add a family member, costs go up. For a family of up to four members, the contribution rises to $110,000 with the application fee at $27,500 and the due diligence costing $10,000 for the main applicant plus $7,500 for each additional member over 16 years old – a total of $172,000 for a four-member family, including the $500 per passport fee. A family of five or more requires a contribution of $115,000, with an application fee of $30,000.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
You could buy citizenship to this tiny Pacific island for $105,000
If you dream of escaping to a tiny island in the South Pacific, you may just be in luck. The serene nation of Nauru recently launched a golden passport initiative selling citizenship with an investment starting at $105,000. Located in the Central Pacific, Nauru is home to under 12,000 people and spans just over eight miles to be the world's smallest independent republic, according to its government website. Along with a long history of Micronesian and Polynesian cultures who have lived there for over 3,000 years, the island is also rich in pristine beaches and marine life. However, all of that is under threat by climate change. As a low-lying atoll, Nauru is at a higher risk for rising sea levels and biodiversity loss, prompting the world's third-smallest nation to introduce the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference. "We stand on the frontlines of climate change, facing rising sea levels, intensifying storm surges, and accelerating biodiversity loss," Prime Minister Asterio Appi said in a news release. "The consequences of global warming are rendering Pacific Island states increasingly uninhabitable. By choosing Nauru's citizenship program, investors aren't merely securing their own future – they're investing in the future of our planet." Developed in collaboration with global residence and citizenship by investment firm Henley & Partners, the initiative offers a Nauruan passport in exchange for financial contribution to its climate change solutions. The Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program Office did not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment. "By mobilizing international investment, we can provide immediate, non-debt funding for climate resilience projects, offering a crucial financial lifeline for vulnerable nations while enabling investors to support global climate action," said Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, in a statement to USA TODAY. "Rethinking how private wealth and capital intersect with public survival is key to bridging the climate finance gap. Investment-based residence and citizenship programs have emerged as one such mechanism, channeling funds into adaptation, mitigation and sustainable development efforts in high-risk regions.' Here's what to know about Nauru's new golden passport program. Besides helping to fund Nauru's Higher Ground Initiative – which supports climate change mitigation efforts like solar energy installation, EV infrastructure, water security and affordable green housing – successful applicants also receive a Nauruan passport and dual citizenship in about three to four months, according to the program office website. "As a Nauru citizen, you will enjoy the benefits of a politically neutral passport, providing you with a valuable safeguard in times of global uncertainty," it states in a fact sheet. Passport holders get visa-free access to more than 89 destinations, including Singapore, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and several places in Polynesia – and can extend citizenship to family members for an added cost. There are also no minimum stay visa requirements to achieve dual citizenship. For a single applicant over the age of 18 years old with a clean personal background and proof of the source of funds, the contribution starts at $105,000, along with fees of $25,000 for the application, $10,000 for due diligence, and $500 for the passport itself. This totals $140,500 for one person, which is still significantly cheaper than Europe's popular golden visas – in Malta, one of the lower-cost options, the minimum investment starts at €182,000 (about $197,284). To add a family member, costs go up. For a family of up to four members, the contribution rises to $110,000 with the application fee at $27,500 and the due diligence costing $10,000 for the main applicant plus $7,500 for each additional member over 16 years old – a total of $172,000 for a four-member family, including the $500 per passport fee. A family of five or more requires a contribution of $115,000, with an application fee of $30,000. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: This island is selling citizenship in fight against climate change
