This is a key victory for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who hoped to strike a deal ahead of climate change talks in Paris later this year.

Merkel said the conference, which is due to take place in December, will not be credible without a consesus on the 2C goal. The Chancellor is also asking countries to commit to the Green Climate Fund, which is aiming for $100bn by 2020 but has only $10bn so far.

Despite the efforts being made at the summit, scientists argue that tempeatures are set to rise 4C by 2100 and even a rise of 2C will still result in weather-related disasters across the world.

Read more: Europe wants Irish beef herd cut by 35%