One Of The World’s Smallest Nations Sells Citizenship To Fight Climate
Nauru, the world’s third-largest country by geography, is sinking into the Pacific Ocean, a problem caused by rising sea levels. The nation covers only about 20 square miles and has to relocate about 10,000 people, roughly half its population.
To fund the relocations, Nauru is selling citizenship for $105,000. In a year, 66 people have applied, and the government believes this figure will hit 500.
Nauru Selling Citizenship For $105,000
The Times of India reports that a successful “sale” will bring in about one-fifth of the government’s annual budget.
Phosphate mining has made part of the island’s interior uninhabitable, meaning the area where people can be relocated is small. The island also has no rivers. Because of its proximity to the Equator, the weather is extremely hot.
Flooding Problem
The flooding problem is only one challenge of running the government. As phosphate mining has dropped, the unemployment rate is about 25% of the adult population. Of those who have jobs, about nine out of ten people work for the government.
What is unclear is why anyone would want to be a citizen of Nauru. The government points out that a “politically neutral alternative passport to travel on, providing a valuable safety net during times of global instability.”
While the deal may seem good, it won’t be if the rest of the island eventually sinks into the water.
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