The article discusses the concept of telecoupling, which refers to the interactions between distant human and natural systems, including socioeconomic and environmental flows. It highlights the importance of considering these interactions for sustainability, as they can have significant impacts on multiple systems. The telecoupling framework includes five major components: coupled human and natural systems, flows, agents, causes, and effects. The framework is illustrated using two examples: the trade of soybeans between Brazil and China, and the invasion of red imported fire ants. The framework helps analyze system components and their interrelationships, identify research gaps, detect hidden costs and untapped benefits, and incorporate feedbacks and trade-offs across multiple systems. It also improves understanding of distant interactions and the effectiveness of policies for sustainability at local and global levels. The framework emphasizes the need for integrated research and policies that consider the complex interactions between sending, receiving, and spillover systems. The article also discusses the implications of the telecoupling framework for research and policy on sustainability, including the need to evaluate trade-offs and synergies between different systems, consider feedbacks, and promote policies that account for distant interactions. The framework can facilitate studies on the interrelationships among different types of distant interactions and help promote systematic, multidisciplinary research on these interactions. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of advancing telecoupling research to address complex sustainability challenges.The article discusses the concept of telecoupling, which refers to the interactions between distant human and natural systems, including socioeconomic and environmental flows. It highlights the importance of considering these interactions for sustainability, as they can have significant impacts on multiple systems. The telecoupling framework includes five major components: coupled human and natural systems, flows, agents, causes, and effects. The framework is illustrated using two examples: the trade of soybeans between Brazil and China, and the invasion of red imported fire ants. The framework helps analyze system components and their interrelationships, identify research gaps, detect hidden costs and untapped benefits, and incorporate feedbacks and trade-offs across multiple systems. It also improves understanding of distant interactions and the effectiveness of policies for sustainability at local and global levels. The framework emphasizes the need for integrated research and policies that consider the complex interactions between sending, receiving, and spillover systems. The article also discusses the implications of the telecoupling framework for research and policy on sustainability, including the need to evaluate trade-offs and synergies between different systems, consider feedbacks, and promote policies that account for distant interactions. The framework can facilitate studies on the interrelationships among different types of distant interactions and help promote systematic, multidisciplinary research on these interactions. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of advancing telecoupling research to address complex sustainability challenges.