Momentum sagging at plastic talks

TALKS on forging a landmark treaty to combat the scourge of plastic pollution were stumbling at the weekend, with progress slow and countries wildly at odds on how far the proposed agreement should go.

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The negotiations, which opened last week, have four working days left to strike a legally-binding instrument that would tackle the growing problem choking the environment.

In a blunt midway assessment, talks chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso warned the 184 countries negotiating at the UN that they had to get shifting to get a deal.

“Progress made has not been sufficient,” Vayas told delegates.