PARIS (AP) — U.N. climate chief Christiana Figueres says that the upcoming climate change conference in Paris is the last chance for a meaningful agreement.

Figueres is deep into preparations for trying to broker a landmark global climate deal with more than 190 nations in Paris in December.

She told The Associated Press on Wednesday that "science is telling us that time is running out," and with another decade of dawdling, "we are going to be playing with fire."

Figueres also said that Americans who doubt scientific evidence of global warming should look at the economic advantages of renewable energy, including for growth, jobs and exports.

She said that Americans should see China as a model among top polluting countries that understands the economics benefits of trying to reverse climate change.