Pacific microstate sells first passports to fund climate action

A REMOTE Pacific nation has started selling passports to fund climate action, but is so far struggling to attract new citizens to the low-lying, largely barren island.

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Pacific microstate Nauru, one of the world’s smallest nations, has a novel plan to fund its fight against climate change by selling so-called “golden passports”.

Selling for US$105,000 each, Nauru plans to drum up more than US$5 million in the first year of the “climate resilience citizenship” programme.

Almost six months after the scheme opened in February, Nauru has so far approved just six applications - covering two families and four individuals.

Despite the slow start - Nauru hopes to sell 66 passports in the scheme's first year - President David Adeang remained upbeat.

“We welcome our new citizens, whose investment will assist Nauru to secure a sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come,’ he said.