PCLM-D-25-00357

What competencies physical activity professionals should possess to better integrate climate change related issues into their practice: a Delphi study

PLOS Climate

Dear Dr. Paquito Bernard

Thank you for submitting your manuscript to PLOS Climate. After careful consideration, we feel that it has merit but does not fully meet PLOS Climate’s publication criteria as it currently stands. Therefore, we invite you to submit a revised version of the manuscript that addresses the points raised during the review process.

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Risto Conte Keivabu

Academic Editor

PLOS Climate

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Additional Editor Comments (if provided):

Thank you for submitting “What competencies physical activity professionals should possess to better integrate climate change–related issues into their practice: a Delphi study.” The manuscript addresses a timely and important topic, and the reviewers found the study design and conclusions generally sound. They did, however, identify several areas requiring clarification before the paper can be considered for acceptance.

We invite you to submit a revised manuscript and a point-by-point response to reviewer comments. We look forward to receiving your revision.

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Comments to the Author

Reviewer #1: The authors are to be congratulated on well written and sound manuscript that addresses the novel topic of educational competencies for the physical activity sciences. The study followed a structured Delphi framework, engaged a diverse panel of experts and produced 18 key competencies. These competencies appear to be practical and if adopted, would better prepare kinesiologists to address climate change in their respective practices.

In reviewing the manuscript, a few minor grammatical errors were identified.

In line 200 in the section titled Round 2, the authors state "We have relaunched the questionnaire 2 times to reduce attrition." When I initially read this statement, it was not clear as to whether the same survey was sent out twice to increase the overall response rate, or if refinements were incorporated into the survey and a revised survey was sent out. Based on further review of the manuscript, it appears to be the former. As such, I would try to re-word this sentence so it is a bit clearer.

In lines 108-109, "The competencies, in this context, is defined...", should be changed to "are defined"

In lines 112 and 113, please change "his" to "his or her".

In line 138, "... existed regarded the ..." should be changed to ... "existed regarding the ..."

In line 146, please eliminate the word "of" in the phrase "... competencies of physical activity ..."

In line 185, please add the word "in" such that the phrase is "... avoid bias in the encoding process ..."

In line 227, please change "shown" to "showed".

In line 264, please change "program" to "programs".

In line 299, please change "Another third key finding ..." to either "Another key finding ..." or "A third key finding ...".

Reviewer #2: Thank you for this interesting and groundbreaking work. I really appreciate your efforts develop competencies physical activity professionals should possess to better integrate

climate change related issues into their practice. Please see my attached Word document

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Attachments

Attachment

Submitted filename: PLOS CLIMATE PT.docx

What competencies physical activity professionals should possess to better integrate climate change related issues into their practice: a Delphi study

PCLM-D-25-00357R1

Dear Dr. Bernard,

We are pleased to inform you that your manuscript 'What competencies physical activity professionals should possess to better integrate climate change related issues into their practice: a Delphi study' has been provisionally accepted for publication in PLOS Climate.

Before your manuscript can be formally accepted you will need to complete some formatting changes, which you will receive in a follow-up email from a member of our team.

Please note that your manuscript will not be scheduled for publication until you have made the required changes, so a swift response is appreciated.

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Thank you again for supporting Open Access publishing; we are looking forward to publishing your work in PLOS Climate.

Best regards,

Stefan Wheat, MD

Academic Editor

PLOS Climate

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Additional Editor Comments (if provided):

Reviewer Comments (if any, and for reference):