A grass-roots environmental organisation in the Cook Islands is warning there is a 'huge task' ahead to tackle plastic waste and other marine pollution in Pacific waters.
That follows an announcement by the United Nations' environmental agency that it has declared war on plastic, saying that more than eight-million tonnes of plastic ends up in the ocean each year.
The UN is urging governments to ban or tax single-use plastic bags and legislate to reduce the use of other disposable plastic.
The NGO, Te Ipukarea Society, has been working since 1996 to address environmental issues in the Cook Islands including encouraging local businesses to stop using polystyrene.
Its technical director, Kelvin Passfield, told Amelia Langford he just hopes the UN campaign's not too late.
Listen
Photo: 123rf