Countries are not on track to meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that calls for transformative changes to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path. The 2030 Agenda comprises 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that can be categorised into three dimensions, aligning with the three sustainability dimensions—social, economic, and environmental. So far, SDGs have had limited impact because of their selective implementation without considering their complex interactions. SDGs interact positively (i.e., synergies) or negatively (i.e., trade - offs) depending on context - and location - specific conditions, and their implementation is often challenged by a lack of resources, limited institutional capacity, and socioeconomic and environmental crises. The COVID - 19 pandemic has decelerated or reversed the progress of the 2030 Agenda. Therefore, the next few years are crucial to accelerate SDG progress and adopt a post - 2030 Agenda for a follow - up of SDGs. This presentation elaborates on three research agendas with a threefold approach to accelerate SDG progress: the development of a systems framework, scenario - based analysis of empirical and modelled data, qualitative analysis of literature, and knowledge co - creation with stakeholders, including sectoral experts and policymakers, based on systems thinking. This combination of three approaches is complementary and essential to deal with the complex topic of sustainability transformation.

With the UN Decade on Restoration, the restoration of degraded ecosystems and land-use systems has been put on the global agenda of environmental policy. In 2024, Europe implemented a new restoration law against the background of the European-wide degradation of , terrestrial and aquatic land-use systems and the urgent need to counteract the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. In the presentation, principles and paradigms of ecosystem restoration will be outlined, focusing on the Central European perspective. Measures and objectives of ecosystem restoration will be critically reflected. Examples will be particularly presented from the restoration of forest ecosystems and urban environments.