当前,人类面临着全球性的一系列重大问题,要有效地解决这些问题,必须把地球作为统一的有机整体,研究组成地球系统的各部分之间的动态相互作用,即研究相互关联的流体子系统、生物地球化学循环子系统和固体地球子系统之间的动态相互作用。同时,把地球系统作为一个开放系统,从而把太阳输入作为控制地球演变的外源。
    运用系统思维的方式,把地球作为一个系统来进行研究,从而聚结成为一门崭新的地球系统科学——全球性多学科创新的前沿科学。这种研究方式是一种观念上的基本转变,即运用系统科学认识论和方法论,研究地球系统的整体行为、全球变化的性质和原因,因而地球系统科学就最有利于科学地理解和解决人类共同面临的全球性的重大问题。

    According to systematic mode of thinking, we regard the Earth as a system, which seems destined to form a recent Earth system Science—the global front of multidisciplinary initiatives.
    Today, a series of important global problems are facing mankind. In order to solve these problems effectively, we must actively study the dynamic interaction among the parts of the Earth system as a whole, that is, the dynamic interaction among correlacive fluid subsystem, biogeochemical cycle subsystem and solid Earth subsystem. Moreover, we conside the Earth system to be an open system, in which the inputs of solar energy are exotic resources controlling terrestrial evolution.
    This method of study will bring about a through change in traditional concepts, that is to say, it studies the total behavior of the Earth system, and the basic nature and cause of the global change in terms of the epistemology and methodology of system science, so that Earth system science can be of great advantage to underding and solving scientifically the impottant global problems facing mankind.