A landmark deal to cut global shipping emissions has been abandoned after Saudi Arabia and the US succeeded in ending the talks.

More than 100 countries had gathered in London to approve a deal first agreed in April, which would have seen shipping become the world’s first industry to adopt internationally mandated targets to reduce emissions.

But President Trump had called the plan a “green scam” and representatives of the US administration had threatened countries all week with tariffs if they had voted in favour.

Reflecting the pressure countries faced, the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation issued a “plea” for this not to be repeated.

In a dramatic conclusion on Friday, when countries should have been voting to approve the deal, Saudi Arabia tabled a motion to adjourn the talks for a year.

The chairman said this would mean that the agreement was not approved, as key timelines for the treaty would have to be revised.

The motion passed by just a handful of votes.

The UK, and most EU nations voted to continue the talks, but some countries including Greece went against the EU bloc and voted to abstain.

The countries that voted in favour of adjourning the talks included Russia, Saudi Arabia and the US.

Some key countries that had initially voted to support the deal in April switched sides and agreed to delay proceedings. This included island states Bahamas, and Antigua and Barbuda.

A delegate from Vanuatu told the BBC that these nations rely heavily on the US for trade and had been leaned on heavily by the Trump administration to change their position.