Challenges

Challenges publishes Special Issues to create collections of papers on specific topics, with the aim of building a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. Special Issues are led by Guest Editors, who are experts on the topic and all Special Issue submissions follow MDPI's standard editorial process. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief and/or designated Editorial Board Member will oversee Guest Editor appointments and Special Issue proposals, checking their content for relevance and ensuring the suitability of the material for the journal. The papers published in a Special Issue will be collected and displayed on a dedicated page of the journal’s website. Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices and Guest Editor responsibilities can be found here. For any inquiries related to a Special Issue, please contact the Editorial Office.

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Planetary Health: From Evidence to Action–Confronting Reality (Including Submissions Associated with the 2024 Planetary Health Summit (PHAM2024)

edited by

Jemilah Mahmood

Marie Studer

, Elil Renganathan, Fatimah Ahamad, Menaka Ganeson and

Susan Prescott

submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 8865 | Submission Open

Keywords: planetary health; ecology; biodiversity; ecosystems; microbiomes; and anthropogenic ecosystems; mental health; emotions and wellbeing; solastalgia; and ecological grief; noncommunicable diseases (ncds) and infectious diseases; food systems; nutrition; food processing and nutritional ecology; and planetary diets; lifestyle and the exposome; systems biology; machine learning; preventive medicine; bio-psychosocial medicine; and high-level wellness; environmental degradation; biodiversity loss; and climate change; urban landscapes; natural environments; nature relatedness; green space; green prescriptions; biodiversity interdependence; cooperation; and integration; social and ecological justice; intergenerational justice; health disparities; socioeconomic inequalities; displacement and conflict; migration; and economic; political; and commercial determinants of health; life-course (developmental origins); transgenerational perspectives; and epigenetics; value systems; indigenous knowledge; cultural shift; narrative medicine; storytelling; belief systems; traditional cultures; and spirituality; healthy finance; finance and wellbeing; and doughnut economics; education transformation and education revolution; just transition; governance; and transformational change; science-based communication and social media

(This special issue belongs to the Section Planetary Health)

Agroecology and Conscious Food Systems for Flourishing of People, Places, and Planet

edited by Victor Ernesto Méndez, Karen Spiller, Molly D. Anderson, Hannah Gosnell, Xiaoan Li and Carlos Andres Gallegos-Riofrío

submission deadline 30 Nov 2025 | Viewed by 228 | Submission Open

Keywords: agroecology; agrifood systems; agricultural resilience; climate change; regenerative agriculture; regeneration; participatory action research (PAR); agricultural livelihoods; indigenous knowledges and ancestral food knowledge and practices; traditional cultures; local food initiatives; community programs; food justice and equity (anti-racism and diversity belonging); influence of value systems; worldviews; attitudes; mindsets; on food and food systems; connections between food and individual and collective well-being; planetary health; connectivity of systems on all scales; ecology; interdependence Inner Development Goals; belief systems; cultural change; co-creation; social change; behavioral changes; tipping points; collaborative emergence; spirituality; mindfulness and compassion; connection to nature; nature-relatedness; mutualism; connectedness; appreciation; humility; empathy; strategies to promote community awareness; art; creativity; community initiatives; community circles; reciprocity; mutualism; storytelling; food literacy; early-life and adult education; evaluating strategies for potential benefits for individuals; communities; and environments

(This special issue belongs to the Section Food Solutions for Health and Sustainability)

The Relationship between Sustainability and Inner Development: Towards More Integrative Worldviews, Paradigms, and Actions

edited by

Vivianna Rodriguez Carreon

Kira Cooper

Stefani Greca

and

Lene Søvold

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 14 articles | Viewed by 62810 | Submission Open

Keywords: inner development; inner growth; inner development goals; inner transformation; inner transition; consciousness; positive emotional assets; mindsets; skills; capacities; capabilities; inner qualities; openness; self-awareness; critical thinking; complexity awareness; long-term orientation; other aspects of mental health; emotions and wellbeing; adult development; personal development; social paradigms; narratives; imaginaries; value systems; indigenous knowledges; cultural shift; narrative medicine; reciprocity; mutualism; storytelling; belief systems; traditional cultures; consciousness; spirituality; mindfulness; wisdom; caring for others and the world; appreciation; connectedness; humility; empathy; mindfulness and compassion; collaboration and social skills; communication skills; co-creation; inclusive mindsets and intercultural competence; trust; mobilization; actions to drive change; courage; creativity; optimism; perseverance; transformative leadership; transformative education; art-based approaches; nature-relatedness; green space; green prescriptions; biodiversity interdependence; cooperation; integration; human-nature connectedness; social and ecological justice; intergenerational justice; health disparities; socioeconomic inequalities; life-course (developmental origins); transgenerational perspectives; early life education; early intervention; biological measures; health outcomes

Nurturing Connected Consciousness in the Anthropocene: Addressing Calls for Cultural and Spiritual Transformation as a Path to Personal, Collective, and Planetary Health

edited by

Heidi Honegger Rogers

Mona S. El-Sherbini

Sara L. Warber

, Knellee Bisram and Cindy Xie

submission deadline 31 Dec 2025 | 3 articles | Viewed by 7773 | Submission Open

Keywords: value systems; worldviews; attitudes; mindsets; materialism; indigenous knowledges; traditional cultures; grassroots initiatives; belief systems; cultural change; co-creation; social change; behavioral changes; tipping points; collaborative emergence; spirituality; emotion; imagination; creativity; inspiration; empowerment; self-awareness; connected consciousness; mindfulness; wisdom; connections between individual and collective well-being; planetary health; connectivity of systems on all scales; ecology; interdependence; connections between mental and physical health; efforts to promote fundamental positive elements of humanity; such as love; hope; kindness; compassion; respect; efforts to promote positive actions and caring for others and the world; reciprocity; mutualism; connectedness; appreciation; humility; empathy; mindfulness and compassion; connection to nature; nature-relatedness; strategies to promote community cohesion; art; creativity; community initiatives; community circles; narrative medicine; deep listening; spiritual practices; change narratives; reciprocity; mutualism; storytelling; evaluating strategies for potential benefits for individuals; communities; and environments

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