Thu Mar 06 06:46:50 UTC 2025: ## Nauru Launches “Golden Passport” Program to Fund Climate Change Relocation

**Yaren, Nauru –** The Pacific island nation of Nauru is offering citizenship for approximately $105,000 (Rs 91.5 lakh) in a bid to raise funds for its fight against climate change. The program, dubbed the Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Programme, provides visa-free access to 89 countries, including the UK, Ireland, and Singapore.

Facing existential threats from rising sea levels and coastal erosion, Nauru aims to relocate its population to higher ground and build a new community. This ambitious project is estimated to cost approximately Rs 545 crore (approximately $65 million USD), with the “golden passport” program projected to contribute almost 20% of the total cost.

The initiative, relaunched last year after a previous attempt failed in 2003, aims to attract 500 applicants this year, generating an estimated €50 million (approximately Rs 453 crore). Nauru’s President, David Adeang, emphasized that this is not merely about adapting to climate change but securing a sustainable future for generations.

Nauru’s program head, Edward Clark, stated that the program has already begun receiving applications and is implementing stringent vetting procedures to ensure only suitable investors receive citizenship. The island nation, severely damaged by decades of phosphate mining, has limited resources and is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, with the World Bank predicting a 15-30cm sea level rise by 2050. The program represents a significant attempt to secure the nation’s future.

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