:) you might be correct. My point is that showing up in 2017 to tell how great you're going to be in 2040 does not have any practical reason other than to make nice for the moment of today.

I would love to hear your argument as to why you think this is something newsworthy and relevant.

The underlying message was in fact to show that the French respect the Paris agreement, whereas US just pulled out of it.

So, what better way for the new French president and his administration to show how great they are at promising 23 years into the future?!