Global environmental change and sustainable development are two important issues facing today’s society. International Council for Science proposed “Future earth” program aiming to apply new scientific knowledge to address critical global change questions and achieve sustainable development. This program integrates the existing Global Environmental Change programs (IGBP, IHDP, WCRP, DIVERSITAS). It has become the worldwide scientific alliance responding to global environmental change and promote sustainable development. It will provide critical knowledge required for societies to face the challenges and risks posed by global environmental change and to identify opportunities for a transition to global sustainability. Future Earth research is organized around three broad and integrated research themes: Dynamic Planet; Global Development; and Transformations towards Sustainability, with the emphasis on co-design of research and activities, international and regional research, powerful decision support and support for intergovernmental assessments. China’s development is faced with many problems and responding to global change is both a challenge and an opportunity. We should actively participate in Future Earth program by combining national conditions and characteristics with scientific issues, strengthening communication with foreign research institutes, aiming to explore for our own road of sustainable development.