His country is sinking. So he’s rolling up his pants to make the point at COP26.

Pacific island nations are among those most at risk from climate change, but coronavirus kept most of their leaders from attending the COP26 summit. HONG KONG — Tuvalu’s approach at the COP26 climate summit: Show, don’t tell. In a prerecorded speech set to be aired at the summit on Tuesday, the Pacific island nation’s Foreign Minister Simon Kofe is dressed in a suit and tie at a lectern in the water, his pant legs rolled up to his knees as he stands on what used to be dry land. Waters around Tuvalu, whose highest point is about 15 feet above sea level, are rising about 0.2 inches per year — faster than the global average. Like many of its neighbors, Tuvalu is warning that without global action, its land will almost certainly be submerged entirely. Pacific island nations like Tuvalu are among those most at risk from climate change, but coronavirus outbreaks and the difficulties of traveling in a pandemic have kept most of their leaders from attending the summit in Glasgow, Scotland. Rising Sea Levels Threaten Coral Atoll Nation Of Tuvalu Low-lying Tuvalu has been classified as "extremely vulnerable" to climate change by the United Nations Development Programme.Mario Tama / Getty Images In his speech, Kofe said the eight islands of Tuvalu were “sacred” to its 12,000 people. “They were the home of our ancestors, they are the home of our people today and we want them to remain the home of our people into the future,” he said. Their remoteness combined with early border closures made Pacific island nations among the last places in the world to be touched by the virus, with Tonga recording its first case in October. But some have experienced serious outbreaks this year, raising fears that their health systems could be overwhelmed. Travelers arriving from overseas often face stringent quarantine requirements.