Assessing current and potential future grassland vegetation types and distribution has important practical implications in grassland management. In this study, historical and projected climate data from Inner Mongolia were used to classify grassland classes for two historical (1960–1986 and 1986–2011) and two future periods (2021–2024 and 2041–2060) using the Comprehensive and Sequential Classification System (CSCS). Changes of grassland classes in these time periods were investigated. The results indicated that (1) using the CSCS provided an efficient approach to investigate the impact of historical and future climate on grassland classes and their distribution in Inner Mongolia over time and space; (2) since 1986, the precipitation in Inner Mongolia has declined, decreasing the semi-humid zone area and expanding that of arid and semi-arid areas. The area of Tundra and alpine steppe, Temperate zonal humid grassland and Temperate zonal forest steppe decreased, and that of Frigid desert, Semi-desert, and Steppe group increased; and (3) under the projected increase in temperature and decrease in precipitation in large areas in Inner Mongolia by 2060, the area of arid grassland classes will likely expand (Frigid desert, Semi-desert, and Steppe), and the grassland classes of Tundra and alpine steppe may gradually disappear. Government investment in infrastructure and grassland management measures such as introducing drought tolerant grass species and improved precipitation utilisation through irrigation are needed to adapt to the changing climate. Inner Mongolia should take advantage of the benefits of the increase in temperature in the eastern semi-humid region that would permit reduced grazing pressure in the western arid region.

评估当前和潜在的未来草原植被类型和分布对草原管理具有重要的实际意义。在这项研究中，使用内蒙古的历史和预测气候数据，使用综合和顺序分类系统对两个历史时期（1960-1986 年和 1986-2011 年）和两个未来时期（2021-2024 年和 2041-2060 年）的草地进行分类(CSCS)。调查了这些时期草地等级的变化。结果表明：（1）利用 CSCS 提供了一种有效的方法来研究历史和未来气候对内蒙古草原等级及其分布的时空影响；(2) 1986年以来，内蒙古降水减少，半湿润区面积缩小，干旱半干旱区面积扩大。苔原和高山草原、温带湿润草原和温带森林草原面积减少，寒带荒漠、半荒漠、草原群面积增加；(3) 预计到 2060 年，内蒙古大面积气温升高和降水减少，干旱草原类别（寒漠、半荒漠和草原）的面积可能扩大，苔原草原类别可能扩大高山草原可能会逐渐消失。需要政府投资于基础设施和草地管理措施，例如引入耐旱草种和通过灌溉提高降水利用率，以适应不断变化的气候。