Article Retraction Policy

The Journal of Environmental Sciences and Sustainability (JESS) is committed to maintaining the integrity and accuracy of the scholarly record. Retractions are considered a necessary mechanism for correcting the literature and alerting readers to publications that contain serious errors or ethical breaches.

Grounds for Retraction

Articles may be retracted if:

  1. Scientific Misconduct or Major Errors – There is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable due to fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, data manipulation, or serious methodological errors.

  2. Redundant Publication – The article has been previously published elsewhere without proper citation, permission, or justification.

  3. Ethical Violations – There is evidence of unethical research practices such as plagiarism, inappropriate authorship, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or unethical experimentation.

  4. Legal or Copyright Issues – The article infringes upon copyright or other legal rights.

  5. Payment or Policy Breaches – The author(s) fail to comply with the journal’s policies or payment requirements even after due notice.

Retraction Process

  • The decision to retract an article is made jointly by the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board, following an investigation that adheres to COPE guidelines.

  • Authors will be informed of the concerns and given an opportunity to respond before a final decision is made.

  • A formal retraction notice will be published in the next available issue of the journal, clearly stating the reasons for retraction and who is initiating it (author(s), editor, or publisher).

  • The original article will remain accessible in the journal’s archives, marked clearly as “Retracted” to maintain the scholarly record.

Corrections and Clarifications

  • If an error does not invalidate the entire work, the journal may publish a correction or corrigendum instead of a full retraction.

  • If authors wish to withdraw their article before publication, they must submit a written request to the Editor-in-Chief.

Ethical Oversight

JESS follows international best practices and the COPE Retraction Guidelines to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability in all editorial decisions.