A large bloc wants bold action such as curbing plastic production, while a smaller clutch of oil-producing states want to focus more narrowly on waste management.

The High Ambition Coalition, which includes the European Union, Britain and Canada, and many African and Latin American countries, wanted to see language on reducing plastic production and the phasing out of toxic chemicals used in plastics.

The cluster of mostly oil-producing states calling themselves the Like-Minded Group – including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia, Iran, and Malaysia – want a much narrower remit.

These countries railed against the negotiations being based on the entire life-cycle of plastic: from the petroleum-derived substance right through to waste.

Jfc. So the oil/plastic producers win.