PLOS Climate publishes first papers

Note: PLOS issued the following press release on February 1, 2022

The Public Library of Science (PLOS) today announced that PLOS Climate published its initial cohort of papers. The journal’s mission is to disseminate rigorous science that empowers researchers, policymakers, governments, international organizations, and industry to understand dynamic, changing climates and take positive, evidence-based action in the face of climate change. The journal has so far received more than 85 submissions from researchers around the world.

“This is such an opportune moment to be launching PLOS Climate – at a time where, more than ever, robust science must provide the basis for decision-making in one of the most critical challenges facing the planet,” said Emma Archer, Editor-in-Chief, PLOS Climate. “We hope to be a platform for communicating that science, with a strong emphasis on opportunities for early career researchers in addition to established researchers, as well as those from groups and countries traditionally underrepresented in this field.”

“We seek to amplify the voices of climate experts around the globe to highlight knowledge from diverse regions and foster collaboration that accelerates progress at a global scale,” said Jamie Males, Executive Editor, PLOS Climate. “The broad scope of our journal will provide multi-disciplinary perspectives that help decision-makers develop holistic strategies to address the causes and effects of climate change on every level.”

PLOS announced the launch of five new journals last year and PLOS Climate is the third of these journals with papers ready for publication. All PLOS journals are underpinned by institutional business models that move beyond the article processing charge (APC) to ensure more equitable and regionally appropriate ways to support Open Access publishing. PLOS Climate utilizes our Global Equity Model. PLOS’ existing fee-assistance program also supports authors who are unable to pay any portion of their publication fees.

The Editorial Board represents the full diversity of the research and researchers in the field. It is comprised of more than 120 editors representing more than 35 countries, including 22 Section Editors from 16 countries, and reflects PLOS’ commitments towards building diverse, equitable and inclusive editorial boards.

Here are links to four papers that PLOS Climate just published, as well as three opinion pieces:

• 1.5°C of warming will have catastrophic consequences for coral reefs, and current approaches to climate-smart reef management may offer only a short-term solution
• Extreme heatwaves in the global oceans are rapidly becoming the ‘new normal’
• Reducing animal agriculture could stabilize greenhouse gas levels and offset a significant proportion of 21^st century CO2 emissions
• Boreal forest carbon storage economics can be managed through defined tree-thinning strategies
• Kevin Reed and Michael Wehner describe how scientific attribution of extreme weather events to climate change can be used to understand loss and damage
• Heather Lazrus and colleagues discuss opportunities for collaborations between earth scientists and Indigenous groups for more just and equitable climate science and action
• Karen McNamara and colleagues identify lessons for climate change adaptation in the Pacific Islands

For more information about PLOS Climate, visit the journal homepage.