CO2 target 'opens door for reform'

China should tie the career prospects of officials to their performance in developing both a low carbon economy and the restructuring of the economy to realize the nation's new target of a 40-45 percent reduction in carbon intensity by 2020.

Leading Chinese economists and researchers yesterday made the suggestions and said the target is roughly feasible.

"The most urgent measure, I believe, is to reform the officials' performance assessment system," said economist Gao Shangquan. Gao is the former head of the government agency on reform.