Buy a passport, save a nation? Nauru’s unique plan to fight climate change

The tiny island nation of Nauru in the South Pacific has devised a unique plan to protect itself from rising sea levels: offering citizenship for sale.

As climate change unleashes intense storms, prolongs droughts, and raises sea levels, the world's third-smallest country, and one of the most vulnerable to its effects, is on the brink of a grave existential threat.

Experts predict that nearly all of the 21-square-kilometre island's 12,000 residents will ultimately need to relocate to higher ground. The challenge lies in the fact that Nauru lacks habitable land, and the initial phase of this large-scale relocation project is estimated to cost approximately €60 million.

initiative aimed at raising millions.

A "golden passport" for climate change adaptation

Under this scheme, wealthy individuals can obtain Nauruan citizenship by investing $105,000 (approximately €100,000) within four months of their application. In exchange, they will receive visa-free travel to 89 destinations, such as the UK, Ireland, the UAE, and Singapore.

The application process has been active since last year.

Nauru’s government aims to receive 66 successful applications this year. The long-term goal is much higher. “We would like to achieve 500 applicants coming through the program,” totalling about €50 million, Clark told AFP.

This total would account for about 20 percent of all government revenues for Nauru and would nearly cover the cost of the country's ambitious relocation plans.

What is citizenship investment?

These schemes, commonly referred to as "golden passports," allow individuals to obtain a residency permit for a country by purchasing real estate or making a significant investment or charitable donation.

For affluent investors, for one.

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This country is one of the last to provide residency through investment.

A country facing significant economic difficulties

Once one of the world's wealthiest countries per capita, Nauru was founded on phosphate mining, an industry that has rendered 80 percent of the island uninhabitable.

By 2050, they will be highly susceptible to storm surges and coastal erosion, according to the World Bank's climate risk assessment for Nauru.

Nauru is also densely populated. Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) has cautioned that small islands can sustainably support approximately 100 people per square kilometer. Nauru currently has approximately 563 people per square kilometer.

Along with Australia, several hundred residents are permitted to migrate to the country annually.

Due to its limited land and resources, there are concerns about Nauru's ability to sustain a habitable environment in the long term.

"It's not just about adapting to climate change, but about ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come," Nauru's President David Adeang told AFP.

“This is about securing a secure, enduring, and environmentally sound habitat for generations to come.”

Can Citizenship-by-Investment Programs Revitalize Nauru?

Initiatives like these are not without controversy. Nauru has previously attempted to sell citizenship, with unfortunate outcomes.

A 2003 program was shut down after it was discovered that the country had granted citizenship to Al-Qaeda members who were later apprehended in other parts of Asia, according to Australian broadcaster ABC.

This time, Nauru plans to implement strict evaluation criteria. Despite skepticism from critics, Clark has a different perspective.

"Countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate change are being disproportionately impacted by it, making it essential that they receive a proportionate share of the benefits from new climate-related technologies," he told AFP.