Vision for PLOS Climate

Emma Archer

University of Pretoria, South Africa

Editor-in-Chief, PLOS Climate

“One of the great strengths of open science is the emphasis on communicating findings to operational fields, policy and decision-makers…”

What’s your vision for PLOS Climate?

It would be ideal, given how important 2021 is in terms of the multiple challenges that the planet faces, including (but not limited to) climate change, for PLOS Climate to offer a niche where both deep specialized research; and transdisciplinary research might be communicated. Both are essential to addressing these challenges – and this will hopefully be a community where they have the opportunity to be complementary.

What makes PLOS Climate?

Open science is a key feature, and it is, of course, as critical as it has ever been that innovative research in these fields may achieve a wider audience – including beyond those audiences that have traditionally been the key readership. One of the great strengths of open science is the emphasis on communicating findings to operational fields, policy and decision-makers – hopefully a priority of many potentially submitting authors. 

What features excite you the most?

In a year when science is set to play a central role in, amongst other arenas, some of the most important international environmental negotiations to date, as well as opportunities to assess our progress against targets to which so many countries are committed, I’m excited about the launch of a journal so strongly committed to the principles of open science. 

Click here to learn more about PLOS Climate and here to submit your research.