More than a dozen leaders tour Tuvalu reclamation project before summit

On Tuesday leaders watched dredged white sand reclaim land from the ocean at Tuvalu's coastal site. Representatives of 30 nations attended. Paulson Panapa said they stood on frontline soil; promises will not hold back rising tides and the moment requires decisive delivery. Faiva Namoliki said we are sinking, that here they see the reality, and hoped the messages would make a difference. The six-hectare project sits inside about $50 million of donor work that also built sea walls. Seas around Tuvalu rose about 15 cm in three decades to 2023, twice the global average, NASA researchers say. Jamie Ovia said 30 cm more by 2050 would supercharge flooding beyond past century-scale events. Feleti Teo said every fraction of a degree matters. Further work will add about 21 hectares to a 26 sq km nation averaging 2 m above sea level and home to about 10,000-10,600 people. A traditional song with flower headbands greeted the group before a local dialogue and farewell. Australia listed 14 presidents and prime ministers, 11 from Pacific islands. Fiji hosted the pre-COP ahead of COP31 in Turkey in November 2026. A Tuvalu adviser accused Anthony Albanese of disrespect for not wearing a traditional headpiece and overstepping. criticism also cited thin major-power turnout and coal exports.