Dominica Sells Citizenship to Boost Climate Resilience
Dominica has turned to selling citizenship as a funding source to recover and build climate resilience after Hurricane Maria. The program, selling passports for a minimum of two hundred thousand dollars, funds critical infrastructure but faces concerns over security and transparency. Despite scrutiny, it remains crucial for financing the nation's ambitious recovery efforts.
Faced with extensive damage from Hurricane Maria, Dominica has adopted a unique approach to recovery by selling citizenship as a primary funding source.
By doing so, the island nation aims to become the world's most climate-resilient island without incurring substantial debt.
The citizenship program—offering passports to affluent individuals, mainly from China and the Middle East, for a minimum of two hundred thousand dollars—has become a cornerstone of national revenue, funding critical infrastructure projects such as new medical clinics and housing for storm victims.
Despite its benefits, the program has faced criticism for transparency and security issues.
The initiative remains vital for addressing the country's climate change challenges, driven mainly by emissions from wealthier nations, which contribute to increasingly frequent and severe hurricanes.
Dominica's government has invested significantly in resilient infrastructure, claiming to have funded about two thousand homes resistant to future disasters.
However, concerns from international entities highlight the risks of insufficiently vetted citizenships.
By doing so, the island nation aims to become the world's most climate-resilient island without incurring substantial debt.
The citizenship program—offering passports to affluent individuals, mainly from China and the Middle East, for a minimum of two hundred thousand dollars—has become a cornerstone of national revenue, funding critical infrastructure projects such as new medical clinics and housing for storm victims.
Despite its benefits, the program has faced criticism for transparency and security issues.
The initiative remains vital for addressing the country's climate change challenges, driven mainly by emissions from wealthier nations, which contribute to increasingly frequent and severe hurricanes.
Dominica's government has invested significantly in resilient infrastructure, claiming to have funded about two thousand homes resistant to future disasters.
However, concerns from international entities highlight the risks of insufficiently vetted citizenships.
