Efforts to secure a landmark global treaty to combat plastic pollution collapsed on Friday, as negotiators from 185 nations failed to reach consensus on how to tackle the escalating environmental crisis.

Delegates worked past Thursday’s deadline and through the night in a last-ditch attempt to bridge divisions between countries pushing for bold measures including curbing plastic production and oil-producing states advocating a narrower focus on waste management.

Despite six rounds of negotiations over three years, talks once again ended in stalemate, prompting frustration among participants.

“We have missed a historic opportunity, but we have to keep going and act urgently. The planet and present and future generations need this treaty,” Cuba said.

Tuvalu, speaking on behalf of 14 Pacific small island developing states, expressed deep disappointment at leaving the talks empty-handed.

“For our islands, this means that without global cooperation and state action, millions of tonnes of plastic waste will continue to be dumped in our oceans, affecting our ecosystem, food security, livelihood and culture,” the Polynesian archipelago said.