In 2015 world leaders adopted the ‘Agenda for Sustainable Development’ committing their governments to adopt and act upon 17 goals that would “mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind”. While not binding, countries are expected to develop and fund their own plans and programs. This is an ambitious undertaking. While many of the goals focus on issues of social justice and the elimination of poverty, many have environmental connections. But for members of ESA, these issues are likely not be on the radar because they focus on people and how development can improve their health, welfare and wellbeing. Since funders want results, development without constraints is the norm. Too often such unconstrained projects harm the environment and result in unintended consequences that impede long-term development, especially in regions where people still live directly off the land. We believe that an ignite session in which leading ecologists use their ecological knowledge to explore how sustainable goals with environmental connections can be met. We believe this will start important conversations among ESA members that would not ordinarily take place and that can and should subsequently shape policies and actions at the national, state and local level. By offering insights in short focused talks on those sustainable development goals that connect to environmental issues we hope to begin building network of ESA thinkers that will help the US develop a comprehensive, yet devolved plan of action.