Nauru, a tiny island nation spanning just 8 square miles in the Pacific, is selling citizenship for $105,000 as part of a “golden passport” initiative to raise funds for climate action.
Facing existential threats from rising sea levels, storm surges, and coastal erosion, Nauru lacks the resources to combat climate change, a crisis largely driven by wealthier nations.
The government aims to use the funds to relocate 90% of its 12,500 residents to higher ground and build a new community.
While golden passport programs are controversial due to past misuse for criminal activities, many developing nations are turning to alternative funding methods as global climate aid dwindles.
President David Adeang emphasized the urgency of the initiative, stating, “While the world debates climate action, we must take proactive steps to secure our nation’s future.”
A Nauru passport grants visa-free access to 89 countries, including the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the UAE. However, applicants with certain criminal histories or from high-risk countries, such as Russia and North Korea, will be excluded.
Nauru’s troubled past includes extensive phosphate mining that left 80% of the island uninhabitable, forcing its population to settle along vulnerable coastlines. It has also previously hosted an Australian offshore detention center and is now involved in controversial deep-sea mining projects.
The government expects the citizenship program to generate $5.6 million in its first year, scaling up to $42 million annually, eventually contributing 19% of total government revenue.
Experts highlight the importance of transparency and strict vetting to prevent corruption and misuse, as an earlier citizenship program in the 1990s was linked to international criminal activity.
Nauru joins other climate-vulnerable nations, such as Dominica, in selling citizenship to finance climate resilience projects. As international climate funding remains uncertain, more nations may consider similar strategies to secure their futures.
