Multiple states slam new plastic pollution treaty draft

Multiple countries at a UN meeting aimed at finalizing a landmark global treaty against plastic pollution slammed the new draft text issued Wednesday as the talks descended into disarray.

With 30 hours left for the 184 countries attending to agree on a way forward, nations one by one took the floor to reject the proposed text put forward by the talks chair. While the more ambitious nations blasted the dearth of legally binding action, oil-producing states from across the aisle said red lines had been crossed for them, too. After talks chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso presented a new draft, with Thursday's deadline approaching, matters quickly unraveled. The European Union, Panama, Chile, Mexico and Colombia were among the delegations which rejected the proposed text.