The Paris Agreement ushered in a new global approach to climate change. At the heart of this agreement are nationally determined contributions. We are now implementing these commitments. In recent days we have heard a lot about challenges and opportunities. Challenges are nothing new. It is how we respond that determines our destiny. That said, the size and scope of the climate change threat is new. It is probably the greatest challenge facing humanity today. This means we must act with urgency and seize opportunities quickly. One such opportunity is renewable energy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay We are now implementing the commitments. And we're more than halfway to the 2020 finish line. There will be checkpoints along the way. The 2018 facilitative dialogue will take place later this year. This is a much-needed opportunity to evaluate how far we have come and how far we still have to go. We already know that current commitments are not enough to keep warming below 2 degrees Celsius. We have the tools and the plan and will present new and more ambitious commitments in 2020. But we need urgent action now. So where are we today? First, access to energy remains a major development concern. The importance of access to modern, affordable energy lies in the impact it has on people's lives. Billions of people around the world still do not have access to modern, affordable energy. In Africa, for example, just under 50% of the population has access to electricity. The energy challenge is multifaceted. But with the right energy policies we can provide energy to everyone without creating further burdens on our planet. Many developing countries are investing in low-carbon energy sources and energy efficiency measures. This can ensure that economic growth is not accompanied by pressures on the environment. Likewise, the share of renewable energy in the mix is ​​constantly growing. To make this transition to sustainable energy, many countries need support, for example through capacity building and technology transfer. Including renewable energy plans in Nationally Determined Contributions can help attract the funding needed to implement them. Which brings me to my next point: Nationally Determined Contributions are critical tools for saving our planet. As we all know, current commitments will take us over the precipice of 2 degrees Celsius and well beyond our aspiration of 1.5 degrees. On the one hand we must praise the 165 countries that have made commitments. These commitments provide a good basis for action. But at the same time, we cannot afford to ignore the fact that they are far from sufficient. We should view commitments as a minimum threshold rather than a ceiling. We need urgent and far-reaching action before 2020. Time is running out for women who lose their livelihoods to climate-induced desertification. For the little girl who will have to abandon her home due to the rapid rise in sea levels. And for the communities that will have to rebuild only to be swept away again. Time has already run out for many lives lost to heat waves, droughts, extreme weather events and public health crises, all because of climate change. Simply put: we must do what we are committed to doing. We must commit to doing more. And we must,.