Palau prohibits sunscreens harmful to corals

• The State of the Pacific, Palau, wants to ban sunscreens containing substances harmful to corals.
• Other tourist destinations such as the state of Hawaii soon want to adopt similar laws.
• Palau has been involved in sustainable tourism for years. Tourists must sign a commitment to respect the environment when they enter the country.

The state of the Pacific, Palau, is the first country in the world to protect its coral reefs by banning some sunscreens. On January 1, 2020, the new law should come into force, as announced Friday President Thomas Remengesau.

Who always acts with the appropriate means, must count on penalties of up to 875 euros. The use itself should remain for the moment with impunity, as a "reasonable balance between education and tourist deterrence" should be maintained. However, tourists would expect banned creams to be confiscated, Remengesau said.

Palau, which lies between Japan and Australia in the Pacific Ocean, comprises 356 small islands. Some 100,000 tourists a year visit the approximately 20,000 inhabitants, mainly for diving and swimming. At least ten chemicals commonly used in traditional sunscreens, such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, can fade or even kill corals. The government therefore sees the nature of the island state at risk with the number of bathers visiting Palau each year.

In addition, the US state of Hawaii and the Caribbean state of Bonaire have already pbaded similar laws, but only a year later than in Palau, so in early 2021 to enter in force.

Environmental promises in the pbadport

Palau has been involved in sustainable tourism for several years. In 2009, the first shark sanctuary in the world was created and commercial fishing prohibited in Palau waters. Since 2017, every tourist must also sign the "Pact of Palau" when entering the country. This is a pbadport stamped promise to respect the environment of the destination.

Craig Downs, general manager of Haereticus Environmental Laboratory in Hawaii, told the British daily guardianthat you must keep a close watch on Palau as it is so proactively addressing the subject of environmental and animal protection. "They do not want to be like Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia, where they had to close beaches, the coral reefs on those beaches are dead," said Downs. However, it is not only the countries that are responsible for protection. In addition, sunscreen manufacturers should be prepared to look for alternatives to traditional chemicals in their sunscreen.