US President Barack Obama's eight-year term will end in January. He has rewritten history by becoming the first African American president of the United States, but he will leave behind a mixed legacy.

The positives first. Obama led the US through the global financial crisis, creating new jobs and helping revive the country's economy. Under his leadership, the US agreed with China to reduce their respective carbon emissions. The two countries also worked together to clinch the Paris Agreement on climate change last year. And with the "Clean Power Plan", the US raised its energy efficiency levels, reduced oil imports, and started developing clean energy rapidly.

As a nationwide healthcare reform, his Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (or Obamacare) has considerably reduced the number of people without medical insurance cover. High on the agenda of Obama's second term were legalizing same-sex marriage, promoting equality in education, and immigration reform. He has succeeded on one front, as gay marriage has been legalized in 50 states. And he has tried to delay repatriating 5 million illegal immigrants and grant them work permits.