Nauru is offering a citizenship program for $105,000 to fund relocation of its citizens due to climate change threats. The initiative facilitates visa-free travel to 89 countries and aims to generate significant governmental revenue while preventing exploitation of the program. Previous passport initiatives have encountered issues, highlighting the need for cautious implementation.
Nauru, a diminutive island nation in the Pacific Ocean, has introduced a citizenship initiative costing $105,000 (approximately Rs 91.44 lakh) per passport. This “golden passport” scheme aims to combat rising sea levels and ensure the future of its inhabitants as the government seeks to fund the relocation of its 12,500 citizens to safer territories due to climate threats.
The island, which spans merely 20 square kilometers, confronts significant dangers including rising sea levels, storm surges, and coastal erosion. Consequently, the Nauru government has identified immediate action as vital for survival.
President David Adeang articulated, “While the world debates climate action, we must take proactive steps to secure our nation’s future.” To safeguard the integrity of the program, the government has stipulated that individuals with criminal backgrounds shall be ineligible for citizenship, aiming to prevent exploitation of this citizenship opportunity.
This initiative is not without precedent; previous citizenship programs have encountered issues. In the mid-1990s, a scandal emerged when two alleged Al Qaeda terrorists were apprehended in Malaysia with Nauru passports.
Kirstin Surak, an associate professor at the London School of Economics and author of “The Golden Passport: Global Mobility for Millionaires,” remarked that such citizenship schemes enable individuals to navigate “global lives,” especially benefitting those with restricted travel access.
Nauru’s latest program facilitates visa-free travel to 89 nations, notably including the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. The government anticipates generating over $5.6 million in the first year, with potential increases up to $42 million annually, contributing approximately 19% of the total governmental revenue.
The execution of this initiative is approached with caution. As stated by the CEO of the Nauru Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program, the government is currently assessing possible “unintended consequences or negative impact” as they launch the program.
Nauru is not an isolated case; other nations, such as Dominica in the Caribbean, have also established citizenship-by-investment programs to bolster climate resilience, aiming to achieve the status of the world’s first climate-resilient nation by 2030 using funds from their respective initiatives.
In conclusion, Nauru’s innovative citizenship program reflects both urgency and a strategy to combat the unique challenges posed by the climate crisis. By leveraging financial resources from foreign citizens, Nauru aims to secure a safer future for its residents while remaining vigilant against misuse of the initiative. This approach not only acts as a response to local existential threats but also illustrates a growing trend among nations seeking alternative funding methods for climate resilience initiatives.
Original Source: www.business-standard.com
