Xi, Obama set great climate example

Historic is a word that most of us use too freely, but the announcement of an agreement on climate change between the United States and China is deserving of the term. The fact that the two countries, the world's largest emitters of carbon dioxide, reached a bilateral agreement on curbing emissions isn't merely a cause for optimism, it is a timely development that could reinvigorate efforts to tackle a critical and urgent challenge.

The fact that the US and China are coming together to tackle emissions is important on several levels. In pursuing new targets to reduce carbon emissions by 2025, the US is choosing to go farther and faster than ever before - something that could make a material difference to the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere and could act as an important example to others.

Likewise with China, whose undertaking to peak its overall emissions by 2030 is a major step in the fight against climate change. The two countries' commitments are grounded in an understanding of the importance of replacing coal as a fuel for power generation, and the potential value of carbon capture and storage technology, signifying their ambition and pragmatism.