The United Kingdom has announced plans to ban all single-use plastics in its South Pacific missions
Britain currently has missions in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.
It said banning the plastics will be part of global efforts to combat plastic pollution in the world's oceans.
PACNEWS reported the ban is part of a wider commitment, with the UK Foreign Office having already announced its intention to cut single-use plastics from its UK operations by the end of this year and from its global operations by 2020.
The UK said it would contribute about $US7 billion to developing countries before 2020 to help them mitigate and adapt to the challenges of climate change.
Its Department for Environment will provide an additional $US8 million to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu from its Commonwealth Litter Programme.
A discarded plastic rubbish bag floats on a coral reef Photo: 123RF