Observers believe that in making this statement at this time, the Chinese leader is taking advantage of US reluctance to address the climate question.

"Xi Jinping's climate pledge at the UN, minutes after President Donald Trump's speech, is clearly a bold and well calculated move," said Li Shuo, an expert on Chinese climate policy from Greenpeace Asia.

"It demonstrates Xi's consistent interest in leveraging the climate agenda for geopolitical purposes."

This part is particularly interesting. Where the current Administration has taken the U.S. out of the position of leadership on climate action, it looks like China sees an opportunity to jump in there.

It's also curious to see the target of 2060-- almost all commitments you see on a long-term basis are tied to 2050. Obviously China is a unique situation with its population and industrialization trends, but I hope this won't be the beginning of other commitments casually moving ten years down the line as well, because it's ten years we don't have to spare.