Speaking ahead of next week's official COP21 signing ceremony in New York – which will ratify the agreement to limit global warming well below 2C above industrial levels – United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres believes an early arrangement could be on the cards.

"You heard it here first – I think we will have [it] in effect by 2018" Figueres told an audience at Imperial College, also saying that she expected more than 130 countries to ink their support for the Agreement which was due to enter into force in 2020.

"We think there may be more, but let's see what happens on 22 April," added Figueres, who will step down from her position in July. Figueres insisted that Paris was only a blueprint for ensuring a global reduction in carbon emissions, warning that those who "still put money into high carbon will lose money".