Which country became the first in the world to announce a ban on reef toxic sunscreen products by the year 2020?

Introduction / Context:
This question relates to environmental protection and international current affairs, often grouped under world geography. Some chemical ingredients in common sunscreens have been shown to harm coral reefs and marine ecosystems. As a result, certain countries with sensitive reef systems have moved to restrict or ban these products. The question asks which country was the first to announce that reef toxic sunscreens would be banned by the year 2020.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on a legal or policy decision about reef toxic sunscreen.
• The ban is set to take effect by the year 2020.
• The options list Palau, Tuvalu, Croatia, and Poland.
• We assume commonly reported news from international environmental policy during that period.

Concept / Approach:
Small island nations with tourism based economies and fragile coral reef ecosystems have a strong interest in protecting marine life. Palau, a Pacific island country, became widely known in environmental news for being the first to pass a law banning certain sunscreen products that contain chemicals harmful to coral reefs and marine organisms. The law targeted ingredients such as oxybenzone and octinoxate and aimed for the ban to be fully in place by 2020. Other countries have discussed or adopted similar measures, but Palau received recognition as the first to do so on a national scale.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall which countries are famous for coral reef based tourism and strong environmental policies. Palau often appears in such contexts. Step 2: Remember news reports that highlighted Palau as a pioneer in banning sunscreen chemicals harmful to coral reefs. Step 3: Consider Tuvalu, another Pacific island nation. It faces climate change threats but has not been highlighted as the first mover on sunscreen bans in major headlines. Step 4: Croatia, located on the Adriatic Sea, and Poland, a European country without coral reefs, are even less likely candidates for the first reef focused sunscreen ban. Step 5: Based on this pattern, select Palau as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think of how the issue was framed in international media. Palau was often described as creating the worlds first nationwide reef toxic sunscreen ban, effective from 2020, as part of its broader commitment to marine sanctuaries and sustainable tourism. Articles emphasised that visitors would be required to use reef safe products. No similar coverage presented Croatia or Poland as leaders on coral reef sunscreen policy, and Tuvalu did not receive the same level of specific attention on this issue.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, Tuvalu, is a low lying island country that faces serious sea level rise but is not widely known as the first country to legislate a national sunscreen ban. Option C, Croatia, has a Mediterranean coastline but not coral reef systems comparable to Pacific islands, and it was not the first to introduce such a ban. Option D, Poland, is a European nation with no coral reefs and no early status as a reef sunscreen policy pioneer. These countries may have their own environmental policies, but they are not the answer to this specific question.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to guess based only on familiarity with country names rather than recalling the specific environmental story. Another pitfall is to confuse this policy with marine protected areas or fishing restrictions more generally. When revising current affairs, try to connect each environmental milestone with a key country, such as Palau with reef toxic sunscreen bans, to remember them more easily in exams.

Final Answer:
The first country to announce a ban on reef toxic sunscreen products by 2020 was Palau.