Varieties of Local Implementation for Net Zero in China: Evidence From Three Cities

ABSTRACT Since China updated its nationally determined contributions in 2021, achieving carbon peaking before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060—the so‐called “dual carbon” goals—has become the new guiding principle of China's climate governance. However, few studies have examined the implementation of China's dual carbon goals, particularly the variation at the subnational level. To bridge this knowledge gap, we investigate the strategies to implement the dual carbon goals in three Chinese cities with different economic and institutional conditions: Changji, Huzhou, and Guangzhou. Drawing on data from policy documents, media reports, and field interviews, we identify distinctive governance models adopted by the three city governments, shaped by their respective local contexts. Based on our inductive case studies, we propose a political economy framework that highlights three key factors—economic structure, local government commitment and prior experience, and the influence of non‐state actors—to explain variation in net‐zero implementation across Chinese cities. By unpacking the dynamics of local adaptation and innovation in net‐zero governance, our study contributes to the theoretical debate on polycentricity in China's climate governance.