This　study　employs　a　mixed　research　design　to　examine　the　effectiveness　of　local　climate　ambitions　in　China　and　identify　the　factors　influencing　their　performance.　The　empirical　results　indicate　that　local　governments＇　ambitious　climate　pledges　do　not　necessarily　lead　to　better　performance　in　low-carbon　development　compared　to　cities　without　such　pledges.　This　conclusion　is　supported　by　various　indices,　including　the　low-carbon　status　index,　the　carbon　emissions　reduction　trend　index,　the　carbon　peaking　trend,　and　the　decoupling　degree　of　carbon　emissions　growth　rate　and　GDP　growth　rate.　By　integrating　the　principal-agent　theory,　the　study　reveals　that　local　governments　often　make　climate　pledges　passively,　driven　by　central　government　mandates　rather　than　genuine　ambition.　This　lack　of　true　commitment　is　attributable　to　weak　incentives　and　constraints,　significant　pressure　to　transition　to　low-carbon　development,　and　the　absence　of　robust　monitoring　and　accounting　systems.