[Objective] The spatio-temporal characteristics of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values and its response to climatic factors were analyzed from 2001 to 2017 in order to provide a scientific basis for ecological environment protection and regional soil and water conservation in the Western Sichuan Plateau. [Methods] The NDVI of the Western Sichuan Plateau was retrieved from the MOD09A1 data. Combined with air temperature and precipitation data provided by China Meteorological Science Data Sharing Service Network, the spatio-temporal distribution, changing trends and continuous changing characteristics of the NDVI were analyzed by using the methods of Theil-Sen media trend analysis, Mann-Kendall statistical test and Hurst index, and the response of NDVI variations to climate factors was also explored. [Results] ① From 2001 to 2017, the mean value of NDVI in the Western Sichuan Plateau was 0.486, showing a trend of gradual increase from northwest to southeast. In vertical distribution, the NDVI mean value firstly increased and then decreased with the increasing of elevation; ② In nearly 17 years, the NDVI increased at the rate of 0.01/10 a in the Western Sichuan Plateau. The changing trends of NDVI were dominated by improvement, and improved and degraded areas accounted for 83.5% and 16.5%, respectively. According to the study of Hurst index, the overall change of NDVI in the Western Sichuan Plateau had a strong persistence, while its anti-persistence was weak. ③ From 2001 to 2017, the air temperature in the Western Sichuan Plateau showed an upward trend, and no significant trend in precipitation was obvious. On the whole, there were spatial differences in the response of NDVI to climate. The NDVI in the northern region of the study area was mainly affected by air temperature and precipitation, whlie the NDVI in the southwest region was mainly affected by precipitation. [Conclusion] Vegetation growth in the Western Sichuan Plateau was shown to be controlled by climate, topography and human activities. The NDVI presents obvious spatial heterogeneity. With the continuous progress of ecological civilization construction, the improved areas of NDVI continued to increase in nearly 17 years, and has strong sustainability in the future.