The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 ‘Life on Land’ aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. The High-level Political Forum (HLPF) of the United Nations (UN) reviews, coordinates, and decides on the future of SDG 15 in 2018. The SDGs are spearheaded by the United Nations involving its Member States and civil society around the globe. The contribution of science to this process is critical to better understand, track, and measure the inherent challenges and progress to achieve the ambitious SDGs. Geoscientists from all fields are invited to join the debate at the science-policy interface.

After a basic introduction into the SDG framework, the keynote talks held by Saskia Keestra, Luca Montanarella, and Herwig Ranner will highlight the diverse perspectives within the SDG framework and the interplay of actors from both scientific and policy fields. In an open discussion, the keynote speakers and audience will discuss how the SDGs can be a framework for scientists, which burning research needs are missing, and how SDG15 should be revised. This will include possibilities for how to get scientifically involved together with career opportunities, especially for early career scientists. During the discussion the expertise of the audience will be crowdsourced in an exercise on how to get involved and integrate your research ideas into policy-making decisions.