Policies & Statements

Peer Review Policy

The Journal of Environmental Sciences and Sustainability (JESS) is committed to maintaining a rigorous, fair, and transparent peer-review process to ensure the publication of high-quality scholarly research.

1. Review Model

JESS follows a Double-Blind Peer Review system in which the identities of both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review process to ensure objectivity and impartial evaluation.

2. Initial Screening

All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial editorial assessment to evaluate:

  • Relevance to the journal’s scope

  • Originality and academic quality

  • Ethical compliance

  • Plagiarism (screened using reliable plagiarism-detection software)

Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria may be rejected prior to external peer review.

3. External Peer Review

Manuscripts that pass initial screening are reviewed by at least two independent experts in the relevant field. Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on:

  • Originality and significance of the research

  • Soundness of research design and methodology

  • Quality and validity of data analysis

  • Contribution to the field

  • Clarity, structure, and presentation

Review decisions may be:

  • Accept

  • Minor Revision

  • Major Revision

  • Reject

4. Revisions and Final Decision

Authors are required to revise their manuscripts in accordance with reviewer comments and submit a detailed response to reviewers. The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision based on reviewer recommendations and the quality of revisions.

5. Confidentiality and Ethics

All submitted manuscripts and reviewer reports are treated as confidential. JESS adheres strictly to Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines and does not tolerate plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, or unethical research practices.

6. Reviewer Responsibilities

Reviewers are expected to:

  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations

  • Maintain confidentiality

  • Declare any conflicts of interest

7. Appeals

Authors may appeal editorial decisions by submitting a written justification. Appeals are reviewed by the Editorial Board, and decisions following appeal are final.

Article Retraction Policy

The Journal of Environmental Sciences and Sustainability (JESS) upholds the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing. Articles may be retracted in accordance with COPE guidelines to preserve the accuracy and credibility of the scholarly record.

Grounds for Retraction

1. Significant Scientific Errors

Retraction may occur if:

  • Findings are unreliable due to data fabrication, falsification, or manipulation

  • Honest errors (e.g., miscalculations, methodological flaws) critically invalidate the results or conclusions

2. Redundant or Duplicate Publication

Retraction applies when substantial portions of the article have been previously published without proper citation, permission, or justification, including simultaneous or sequential submissions to multiple journals.

3. Ethical Misconduct

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Plagiarism, including misuse of confidential peer-review material

  • Improper authorship practices, such as guest, gift, or ghost authorship

4. Unethical Research Practices

Retraction may result from:

  • Lack of required ethical approval

  • Violation of human or animal research standards

  • Manipulation or misrepresentation of research data

5. Non-Compliance with Financial Obligations

Failure to fulfil mandatory publication fees—after a grace period of up to 60 days—may result in retraction to ensure fairness and sustainability of the open-access model.

Open Access Policy

The Journal of Environmental Sciences and Sustainability (JESS) is a fully Gold Open Access journal, committed to unrestricted access to scholarly research.

Access and Usage Rights

  • All articles are freely available online without subscription or registration

  • Users may read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, link to, and reuse articles for lawful purposes, provided proper attribution is given

Licensing

All published articles are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits:

  • Sharing and redistribution in any medium or format

  • Adaptation and reuse for any purpose, including commercial use

  • Proper credit to the original authors and source

Commitment to Open Knowledge

JESS aims to:

  • Enhance global visibility and readership

  • Promote interdisciplinary collaboration

  • Support researchers from diverse regions

  • Advance knowledge in environmental sciences and sustainability studies

Privacy Statement

The Journal of Environmental Sciences and Sustainability (JESS) is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of all users, authors, reviewers, and contributors.

Collection and Use of Personal Information

Personal data (e.g., names, email addresses, affiliations) is collected solely for journal operations, including:

  • Manuscript submission and peer review

  • Editorial and publication communication

  • Indexing and administrative processes

Confidentiality and Data Protection

JESS ensures that:

  • Personal data is used exclusively for journal purposes

  • Information is not shared with third parties unrelated to journal operations

  • Access is limited to authorized editorial and administrative staff

  • Industry-standard security measures are in place to prevent unauthorized access

User Rights

Users have the right to:

  • Request correction or updating of personal information

  • Inquire about data usage

  • Request data removal, subject to editorial and legal obligations

Commitment to Ethical Data Handling

JESS follows internationally recognized best practices in data protection and ethical publishing, ensuring transparency, trust, and respect for all stakeholders.