In　recent　years,　the　governance　crisis　represented　by　air　pollution,　climate　warming,　and　resource　and　environmental　degradation　has　restricted　the　sustainable　development　of　cities.　Green　innovation,　characterized　by　low　carbon　intensity　and　efficiency,　is　an　important　way　to　solve　the　dilemma　of　resource　constraints　and　ecosystem　degradation.　This　paper　constructs　a　quasi-natural　experiment　with　China＇s　regional　integration　policies　as　the　shock,　and　studies　the　policy　effects　of　heterogeneous　green　innovation　from　2005　to　2019.　The　results　show　that:　the　impact　of　regional　integration　policies　on　total　green　innovation　is　dynamic　and　sustainable;　regional　integration　policies　can　positively　promote　exploitative　green　innovation,　but　have　no　significant　impact　on　exploratory　green　innovation;　and　the　effects　of　regional　integration　policies　on　green　innovation　in　cities　of　different　sizes,　locations,　and　pollution　levels　is　heterogeneous.　Future　policy　design　should　therefore　pay　more　attention　to　the　incentive　effect　of　exploratory　green　innovation.　©　2022　Elsevier　B.V.