Editorial: Health professions education at a time of triple planetary crises

This Research Topic, “Health professions education at a time of triple planetary crises,” includes nine articles that explore various dimensions of how health professions education must respond to the interrelated crises of a changing climate, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Collectively referred to as a “Triple Planetary Crisis,” this phrase is no longer metaphorical. In late 2023, editors of more than 200 health journals urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare this interconnected climate-nature crisis a global health emergency, warning that it meets all the criteria for severity, international impact, and urgency of action (1). Separating the climate and nature (biodiversity loss and pollution) crises has led to fragmented responses and missed opportunities in terms of synergistic solutions. It is important to understand that the Planetary Health crisis encompasses climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution and needs to be addressed urgently. Subsequently, the development of eco-ethical leadership for dealing with planetary changes is an imperative in healthcare professions education (2).