A top White House adviser has described the limited, non-binding Copenhagen accord as a great step forward saying the US could challenge India and China if they don't meet their stated goals.

As part of the agreement between the US and four other countries, China and India have set goals for combating climate change, noted Obama adviser David Axelrod. "We're going to be able to review what they're doing. We're going to be able to challenge them if they don't meet those goals," Axelrod told CNN.