This study seeks to extend the concept of multi-level governance beyond its European origins by applying it to an authoritarian context, with China as a focal case. Using a low-carbon city pilot program in Shenzhen as a case study, it investigates the factors motivating Chinese cities to adopt sustainability policies from a multi-level governance perspective. The findings indicate that China's adaptable authoritarianism has allowed for a level of flexibility that strengthens regime stability. The study concludes that low-carbon urban development has opened pathways for meaningful transformations, enabling China to fulfil its environmental commitments and achieve national energy reduction targets. These developments have impacted the hierarchical structure of local governance and brought gradual shifts in the political system, reducing authoritarian control in favour of effective local development with active collaboration from diverse societal stakeholders.