Combatting land degradation and achieving land degradation neutrality are crucial to securing a globally sustainable future. Wuepper et al. (Global Change Biology, 2021) propose an integrated approach to delineate global land degradation based on the concept of natural resources ‘debt’ that combines a diverse range of soil and vegetation indicators. The research is novel both in considering a variety of indicators and in distinguishing between the current state and historical/natural status with (or without) human impact. This novel framework will implement more effective regulatory interventions and land‐use policies, and assist in achieving the long‐term sustainability of terrestrial ecosystems.