President Obama Says Copenhagen Produced Limited Achievements

President Obama acknowledged that "people are justified in being disappointed about the outcome in Copenhagen" but pointed to agreement "on non-legally binding targets for all countries" as a key achievement of the talks, Reuters reported. Obama said that "at least we kind of held ground" at Copenhagen, "and there wasn't too much backsliding from where we were."

While many European nations criticized China's role at the talks, Obama said its delegates had been "essentially skipping negotiations" before finally agreeing to the five-nation Accord that concluded Copenhagen. China contended that it "played a crucial role" and asserted that it was not notified of a late meeting "to discuss a new text" on GHG emissions goals, AFP reported.

U.N. climate head Yvo de Boer encouraged countries to avoid assigning blame over Copenhagen's failings and work toward making the 2010 talks in Mexico City a success. De Boer also said it was unlikely that the process of negotiations will be changed despite the various problems in Copenhagen.

Mexico acknowledged that hosting the talks next year and getting countries to agree to the goal of cutting emissions 50 percent by 2050 will be "a big challenge for the country."

- Related stories also appeared in Xinhua, Associated Press via Washington Post, Reuters via the Washington Post, and the Associated Press via USA Today.