The Leibniz Research Network ‘Earth & Societies’ successfully held its strategy retreat on 19–20 May 2026 at the LIAG Institute for Applied Geophysics in Hanover. Leading researchers from the natural and social sciences from across Germany came together to explore current and future challenges arising from intensifying interlinkages between the Earth system and societies in the Anthropocene. The network’s future strategy envisages strengthening international collaboration with colleagues in the Global South and North, including themes such as atmosphere and societies; sustainable use of oceans and marginal seas; freshwater and societies; biodiversity and societies within the Earth system; bio-economy within the earth system; urban-rural interdependencies within the Earth system; societal resilience in the Earth system; and infrastructures. Accordingly, the network is going to establish an international platform that is supposed to foster integrated and transformative research on Earth and societies.