Based on the MODIS remote sensing products from 2000 to 2016 in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI)was adopted to demonstrate the changes of vegetation cover. Combined with the measured data from the meteorological stations in the basin, the trend analysis method, Hurst index method, and partial correlation coefficient method were used to investigate the response of vegetation cover to climate change. The results show that the NDVI in the upstream and downstream region in recent years was mainly improved, while that in the middle reaches was mainly deteriorated. The high value of NDVI was located in the low elevation area. The trend of vegetation cover against elevation was firstly stable, then downward, and finally stable again. The correlation coefficient between NDVI and temperature in the Yarlung Zangbo River basin was greater than that with precipitation, indicating that the impact of temperature on the growth of vegetation in the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin is much stronger than that of precipitation. The Hurst index across the whole basin showed a significantly spatial heterogeneity, with an average value of 0. 51, indicating that the NDVI of the Yarlung Zangbo River Basin showed a weak sustainability. The spatial sustainability of the NDVI in the Lhasa River Basin and the upper reaches of the whole basin was relatively strong, reaching the value of 0. 74.