The Earth is under significant pressure from environmental changes, including freshwater shortages, ecosystem degradation, soil erosion, biodiversity loss, atmospheric chemistry changes, declining fisheries, and potential climate changes. These changes are occurring beyond natural variability and intersect with existing social issues like poverty and disease. These changes represent a shift in the human-nature relationship, with cascading effects that are difficult to predict. Societies must develop creative strategies to adapt, but many are not yet doing so. The Earth is now in a no-analogue state, with changes unprecedented in human history. While we do not yet know critical thresholds or how to transition to sustainability, global change science has made significant progress in understanding the Earth System. The challenge is to ensure a sustainable future, which requires a new and more vigorous approach to integrated Earth System science. The past decade of research has shown that the Earth is a system where life plays a key role in maintaining habitable conditions. Human activities are significantly influencing the Earth System, and the Earth is now operating in a no-analogue state. The Earth System has critical thresholds and abrupt changes, and human activities could trigger catastrophic changes. The Earth is now in a no-analogue state, with changes unprecedented in human history. The challenge is to ensure a sustainable future, which requires a new and more vigorous approach to integrated Earth System science.The Earth is under significant pressure from environmental changes, including freshwater shortages, ecosystem degradation, soil erosion, biodiversity loss, atmospheric chemistry changes, declining fisheries, and potential climate changes. These changes are occurring beyond natural variability and intersect with existing social issues like poverty and disease. These changes represent a shift in the human-nature relationship, with cascading effects that are difficult to predict. Societies must develop creative strategies to adapt, but many are not yet doing so. The Earth is now in a no-analogue state, with changes unprecedented in human history. While we do not yet know critical thresholds or how to transition to sustainability, global change science has made significant progress in understanding the Earth System. The challenge is to ensure a sustainable future, which requires a new and more vigorous approach to integrated Earth System science. The past decade of research has shown that the Earth is a system where life plays a key role in maintaining habitable conditions. Human activities are significantly influencing the Earth System, and the Earth is now operating in a no-analogue state. The Earth System has critical thresholds and abrupt changes, and human activities could trigger catastrophic changes. The Earth is now in a no-analogue state, with changes unprecedented in human history. The challenge is to ensure a sustainable future, which requires a new and more vigorous approach to integrated Earth System science.