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. Over the past few days, we have heard a lot about the challenges and opportunities. The challenges are not new. It is how we respond that determines our destiny. That said, the scale and scale of the threat of climate change is new. This is arguably the greatest challenge facing humanity today. This means we must act urgently and seize opportunities quickly. One of these opportunities is renewable energy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get the original essay We are currently implementing the commitments. And we're more than halfway to the 2020 finish. There will be checkpoints along the way. Later this year, the 2018 Facilitative Dialogue will take place. This is a vital opportunity to assess 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 we will present new, 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 and affordable energy lies in its impact on people's lives. Billions of people around the world still lack access to modern, affordable energy. For example, in Africa, just under 50% of the population has access to electricity. The energy challenge is multiple. But with appropriate energy policies, we can provide energy to everyone without creating additional burden 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 energies in the mix is ​​steadily increasing. To achieve this transition to sustainable energy, many countries need support, particularly in capacity building and technology transfer. Including renewable energy plans in nationally determined contributions can help attract the funding needed for their implementation. Which brings me to my next point: Nationally Determined Contributions are essential tools for saving our planet. As we all know, current commitments will take us over the 2 degree Celsius cliff and well beyond our 1.5 degree target. On the one hand, we must congratulate the 165 countries that have made commitments. These commitments constitute a good basis for action. But at the same time, we cannot afford to ignore the fact that these measures are far from enough. We should view commitments as a floor rather than a ceiling. We need urgent, far-reaching action before 2020. Time is running out for this woman who is losing her livelihood to climate-induced desertification. For the child who will have to abandon their home in the face of rapidly rising sea levels. And for the communities who will have to rebuild only to be washed away again. The time has already passed for many lives lost to heat waves,,.