China's national and local governments have defined various eco-indicators to promote sustainable development. Some revisions are needed to improve economic performance, environmental quality and social development.

The State Council, for example, has proposed national emission-reduction targets in its latest five-year plan (2011–15), for which the eco-indicator is a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product by 40–45% in 2020 relative to 2005 levels (see http://go.nature.com/4k3mqo). Others include circular-economy indicators released by the National Development and Reform Commission in 2007 to address the environmental degradation and resource scarcity associated with rapid economic development (H. Li et al. Energy 35, 4273–4281; 2010); national eco-industrial park indicators set up by the environment ministry in 2006 (Y. Geng et al. J. Ind. Ecol. 13, 15–26; 2009); regional sustainable-development indicators brought in by the science ministry in 2009; and national environmental-living indicators put forward this year by the housing ministry.

Most of these indicators are relative. Given China's rapid economic development, a reduction in terms of ratio-based indicators may not mean a net reduction in emissions and consumption of materials or energy.

There is no provision in sustainable-development plans generally for prevention-oriented indicators that reduce — rather than support — recycling and reuse. However, curtailing the production of reusable waste materials by promoting such an indicator would disadvantage producers and consumers who would benefit more from reuse-and-recycling indicators.

Autonomy and lack of standardization allow local government officials to cherry-pick their achievements to collect political credits and encourage them to select indicators that cast them in a positive light.

Data collection on eco-indicators is complicated when it involves different agencies. Officials need to secure cooperation from other relevant government agencies to guarantee the validity and accuracy of such data.

Most eco-indicators are voluntary and can be pursued with different intentions. The relatively rich regions of eastern China have a genuine interest in improving resource efficiency and environmental performance. The poorer western regions are more likely simply to want to gain access to national financial subsidies.