Drought and spring cooling induced recent decrease in vegetation growth in Inner Asia

► The response of vegetation growth to climate change in Inner Asia was investigated. ► The greening trend observed during the 1980s was reversed in the 1990s. ► Summer has the earliest turning point in the early 1990s, as a result of droughts. ► Spring vegetation growth decline is closely linked with temperature decrease. ► Vegetation growth responses to extreme climate event show a heterogeneous pattern.