“We will not stand idly by as the water rises around us” says Tuvalu minister delivering COP26 speech knee-deep in the ocean

Tuvalu’s foreign minister has given a speech to the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow standing knee-deep in seawater to show how his low-lying Pacific island nation is on the front line of climate change.

The video of Simon Kofe standing in a suit and tie at a lectern set up in the sea delivering his speech draws attention to Tuvalu’s struggle against rising sea levels.

“We will not stand idly by as the water rises around us, we are not just talking in Tuvalu, we are mobilising collective action at home, in our region, and on the international stage to secure our future,” says Minister Kofe to the leaders at Glasgow.

It is due to be shown at the climate summit on Tuesday (November 9) and comes as regional leaders push for more aggressive action to limit the impact of climate change.

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