Although inter-organizational learning has gained substantial attention, research about how it affects green innovation is still unclear. From inter-organizational linkage and the organizational ambidexterity theory perspective, this paper put forward vertical exploitive learning and lateral explorative learning, and explores the relationship of inter-organizational learning and green innovation, and analyzes the moderating role of green absorptive capacity based on the theory of organizational learning and absorptive capacity. Results based on a sample of 203 manufacturing companies in China reveal vertical exploitive learning and lateral explorative learning have significant positive effect on green innovation, and the impact of vertical exploitive learning on green innovation is greater than lateral explorative learning. The results also indicate that green absorptive capacity plays a moderation role in lateral explorative learning and green innovation, but it doesn’t moderate the relationship between vertical exploitive learning and green innovation. This study expands the literature on green innovation by proposing different inter-organizational learning ways and exposing the relationship between them and green innovation.