[Objective] The spatial and temporal evolution characteristics and driving factors of sand-dust weather in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 1960 to 2020 were analyzed in order to scientifically understand the changes in regional sand-dust weather under the background of climate change and to provide a theoretical basis for ecological governance. [Methods] Daily data for floating dust

blowing sand

and sandstorms from 119 meteorological stations within the Inner Mongolia during 1960—2020 were analyzed to determine the spatial-temporal variation characteristics of sand-dust weather for this region using trend analysis

the M—K test

wavelet analysis

etc. [Results] ① The number and intensity of sand-dust storm days at each level exhibited a very significant (p＜0.01) downward trend in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 1960 to 2020. There was an abrupt decreasing point around 1990 for both the number of floating dust days and blowing sand days. There was no obvious change point in either the number of sand-dust storm days or the sand dust intensity index. ② The frequency and intensity of sand-dust weather was high in the western part of the region

and the high-value center was at the junction of the central and western parts of Alxa League and Wuhai City. The influence of sand-dust weather quickly weakened to the east

and regional differences were great. The weakening degree of sand-dust weather was significantly greater in the western region than in the eastern region. ③ The reduction in number of sand-dust days for the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region resulted from (a) the decreasing number of windy days (10.1 d/10 yr，p＜0.01) and the increasing amount of precipitation in winter and spring (10.1 d/10 yr，p＜0.01) caused by significant warming

and from (b) increasing NDVI (0.036/10 yr，p＜0.01) and a better ecological environment owing to the government’s large-scale ecological governance. [Conclusion] Desertified land control is an effective way to suppress the frequency and intensity of sand-dust weather. It will be necessary to continuously promote the construction of the ecological environment and to minimize the sources of sand and dust. Moreover

we increase efforts to effectively develop and utilize water resources under the background of climate change

thereby promoting a virtuous cycle of ecological environment and reducing the harm caused by sand-dust weather.