<p>Inonovation-oriented urban policies are increasingly viewed as a key instrument for promoting green and efficient energy use, yet causal evidence on their effectiveness remains limited. This study examines whether and through which channels the National Innovative City Pilot (NICP) policy in China promotes urban energy efficiency (UEE). Using panel data for 281 prefecture-level cities in China from 2006 to 2023, this study estimates the policy effect through a difference-in-difference (DID) approach. These results indicate that the NICP significantly boosts UEE, and this conclusion holds robust across multiple robustness tests, including propensity matching combined with DID (PSM-DID), alternative measures of energy efficiency, and placebo tests. Further exploration of heterogeneity reveals that the policy is stronger in cities with looser trade restrictions, lower government intervention, and more advanced industrial structures. Channel evidence suggests that the improvement in energy efficiency operates primarily through three channels: the accumulation of human capital via basic education, technological upgrading, and the expansion of digital infrastructure. By jointly linking human, technological, and digital progress to energy outcomes, this study provides new empirical evidence on how innovation-driven urban policies can contribute to cleaner and more efficient energy use.</p>