Resilience thinking focuses on the dynamics and development of complex social-ecological systems (SES), emphasizing resilience, adaptability, and transformability. Resilience is the capacity of a SES to remain within critical thresholds while continuously changing and adapting. Adaptability is part of resilience, representing the ability to adjust responses to changing external and internal factors. Transformability is the capacity to cross thresholds into new development trajectories. Transformability at smaller scales supports resilience at larger scales, using crises as opportunities for innovation and recombination of knowledge. Resilience thinking integrates these concepts to understand SES dynamics, considering multiple scales and attractors. It highlights the need for social-ecological systems to adapt and transform to maintain sustainability. The concept of resilience has evolved from ecological systems to include social systems, emphasizing the interdependence of ecosystems and human societies. Resilience thinking acknowledges the importance of social learning, governance, and institutional structures in enhancing resilience. Transformability involves creating new stability domains and crossing thresholds into new trajectories. Deliberate transformation requires assessing current and alternative stability domains and fostering resilience in new trajectories. Transformations draw on resilience across multiple scales, using crises as opportunities for change. Social-ecological systems must adapt and transform to avoid irreversible changes, especially as Earth System resilience is threatened. Case studies show that transformations involve preparation, crisis-driven change, and building resilience in new systems. Multiscale resilience is essential for understanding the interplay between persistence and change. Resilience thinking promotes adaptive approaches, allowing for innovation and transformation while avoiding undesirable trajectories. The Earth System faces thresholds that may force transformation, requiring society to foster flexible systems that contribute to Earth System resilience.Resilience thinking focuses on the dynamics and development of complex social-ecological systems (SES), emphasizing resilience, adaptability, and transformability. Resilience is the capacity of a SES to remain within critical thresholds while continuously changing and adapting. Adaptability is part of resilience, representing the ability to adjust responses to changing external and internal factors. Transformability is the capacity to cross thresholds into new development trajectories. Transformability at smaller scales supports resilience at larger scales, using crises as opportunities for innovation and recombination of knowledge. Resilience thinking integrates these concepts to understand SES dynamics, considering multiple scales and attractors. It highlights the need for social-ecological systems to adapt and transform to maintain sustainability. The concept of resilience has evolved from ecological systems to include social systems, emphasizing the interdependence of ecosystems and human societies. Resilience thinking acknowledges the importance of social learning, governance, and institutional structures in enhancing resilience. Transformability involves creating new stability domains and crossing thresholds into new trajectories. Deliberate transformation requires assessing current and alternative stability domains and fostering resilience in new trajectories. Transformations draw on resilience across multiple scales, using crises as opportunities for change. Social-ecological systems must adapt and transform to avoid irreversible changes, especially as Earth System resilience is threatened. Case studies show that transformations involve preparation, crisis-driven change, and building resilience in new systems. Multiscale resilience is essential for understanding the interplay between persistence and change. Resilience thinking promotes adaptive approaches, allowing for innovation and transformation while avoiding undesirable trajectories. The Earth System faces thresholds that may force transformation, requiring society to foster flexible systems that contribute to Earth System resilience.