Thank you from PLOS Climate

Jamie Males, Executive Editor, PLOS Climate

On behalf of myself and Editors-in-Chief Emma Archer and Niklas Boers, I’d like to extend our personal thanks to all the authors, reviewers and editors who’ve contributed to another successful year for PLOS Climate. We view PLOS Climate as a community as much as a journal, brought together by a shared vision of a better way of doing- and sharing- climate research.

Highlights of this year have included the arrival of Niklas as Co-EiC, the expansion of our wonderful team of Section Editors, the introduction of our new Essay article type and the launch of Collections on Climate Change and Human Health, Nature-based Solutions for Climate and Water and Perspectives from Polar Early Career Scientists. And for a little taste of some of the papers we’ve published this year, you can find below a couple of articles that some of our Section Editors found particularly interesting.

We look forward to working with you in 2025! We already have lots of exciting plans, including a new ‘living’ Collection aligned with the IPCC Special Report on Cities and Climate Change, an editorial board mentorship scheme for Early Career Researchers, and new journal sections. We are also open to new opportunities and new collaborations as we continue to grow our community, so please do get in touch if you have ideas you’d like to discuss!

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Section Editor highlights

“The physical science basis of climate change empowering transformations, insights from the IPCC AR6 for a climate research agenda grounded in ethics”– Valérie Masson-Delmotte
Chosen by Ana Maria Loboguerrero, Section Editor for Agriculture & Food Systems

Ana Maria says: “Integrating interdisciplinary insights and actionable science should be a must if climate scientists aim to be successful at accelerating solutions to the climate crisis. This essay provides a very compelling narrative on why climate scientists must step up and embrace a broader, more inclusive approach to their work. The focus on learning from social sciences and humanities to better understand diverse values, economic interests, and power relations, ensuring their research is both relevant and impactful, resonates well with the complexity of the climate issue and the urgency to find actionable solutions. Part of these efforts need to include active engagement through structured dialogues with the private sector to ground corporate responsibility and resilience strategies in science, extending beyond emissions reductions to address adaptation. This is the time for scientists to prioritize actionable knowledge that empowers transformative solutions for agriculture and other critical sectors.”

“Climate Change, Environment, and Health: The implementation and initial evaluation of a longitudinal, integrated curricular theme and novel competency framework at Harvard Medical School”– Madeleine Kline et al.
Chosen by Diogo Guedes Vidal, Section Editor for Social Science & Anthropology

Diogo says: “This paper represents a pivotal advancement in integrating climate education into medical training. The authors introduce a novel approach that equips future physicians to address the multifaceted health impacts of climate change. The curriculum not only enhances understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms linked to environmental crises but also addresses systemic inequities, emphasising the role of structural racism and environmental justice. This integration of medical and social sciences is particularly groundbreaking, as it positions healthcare professionals as key agents in climate action, capable of advancing equity and sustainability through clinical practice, policy advocacy, and systemic reform. I believe this work not only contributes to improving public health outcomes but also aligns with broader global efforts to combat climate change, making it a significant contribution to both education and interdisciplinary climate strategies.”