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According to data from the working reports of China's 244 prefecture-level city governments from 2004 to 2016, we used the instrumental variable method to identify the effects of governments' behavior of setting economic growth targets on regional green technology innovation. The results show that the setting and top-down amplification of economic growth targets have significant inhibitory effects on green technology innovation. The inhibitory effect is more prominent in cities with rapid economic growth and over fulfilment of economic growth targets. In addition, the higher the degree of over fulfilment of the economic target becomes, the more prominent the inhibiting effect is. An impact mechanism analysis reveals that economic growth target constraints affect regional green technology innovation through an industrial structure effect and foreign investment introduction effect. • Economic growth targets on green technology innovation are identified in China. • Setting and top-down amplification are inhibitory on green technology innovation. • Instrumental variable method considers endogenous factors in setting the targets. • Top-down amplification effects on green technology innovation are heterogeneous. • Industrial structure and foreign investment affect the effects of economic growth targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]