Previous research examining the link between board attributes and ecological strategies such as green innovation has primarily focused on structural board attributes, yielding mixed findings. Moreover, the critical contextual grounds that shape the relationship between board attributes and green innovation have often been overlooked, leading to potential biases in empirical investigations. Considering that competence drives outstanding performance, we developed a unique measure of board competence that represents the board's intrinsic ability to perform in corporate strategies. Drawing on a holistic perspective of agency, resource dependence, and stakeholder theories, we posit a strong relationship between board competence and green innovation. Furthermore, we contend that this association is moderated by external governance mechanisms, namely audit quality, media coverage, and imitative pressure. Through our analysis of publicly traded Chinese companies, we found compelling evidence to support our assertions. These findings have important implications for policymakers, practitioners, and managers. \textcopyright 2023 ERP Environment and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.