Sustainability Science

Scope & Guideline

Advancing the Dialogue on Sustainable Solutions

Introduction

Welcome to the Sustainability Science information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of Sustainability Science, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN1862-4065
PublisherSPRINGER JAPAN KK
Support Open AccessNo
CountryJapan
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 2006 to 2024
AbbreviationSUSTAIN SCI / Sustain. Sci.
Frequency6 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressSHIROYAMA TRUST TOWER 5F, 4-3-1 TORANOMON, MINATO-KU, TOKYO 105-6005, JAPAN

Aims and Scopes

Sustainability Science aims to provide a comprehensive platform for research that tackles the complexities of sustainability challenges through interdisciplinary approaches. The journal emphasizes the integration of social, ecological, and economic dimensions in sustainability research, fostering collaboration among various stakeholders to facilitate transformative changes.
  1. Interdisciplinary Research:
    The journal focuses on research that integrates knowledge from various disciplines, including environmental science, sociology, economics, and public policy, to address complex sustainability issues.
  2. Stakeholder Engagement:
    A core aim is to promote collaboration between researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and communities, ensuring that diverse perspectives are included in sustainability solutions.
  3. Systems Thinking:
    The journal emphasizes a systems approach, encouraging research that examines the interconnections and interactions within social-ecological systems.
  4. Transformative Change:
    Research published in the journal aims to identify pathways for transformative change towards more sustainable practices and policies across different sectors.
  5. Social Justice and Equity:
    A consistent focus on the social dimensions of sustainability, the journal explores themes of equity, justice, and inclusivity in sustainability transitions.
  6. Empirical Studies and Case Analyses:
    The journal values empirical research and case studies that provide real-world insights into sustainability practices and challenges.
Recent publications in Sustainability Science indicate emerging trends and themes that are gaining traction. This section outlines key areas of focus that reflect the journal's current research landscape and priorities.
  1. Transdisciplinary Approaches:
    There is a growing emphasis on transdisciplinary research that combines academic knowledge with practical insights from communities and stakeholders, leading to more effective sustainability solutions.
  2. Climate Justice and Equity:
    Research exploring the intersection of climate change, social justice, and equity is on the rise, reflecting an increasing recognition of the need for inclusive approaches to sustainability.
  3. Behavioral Insights and Social Change:
    Emerging themes focus on understanding human behavior and its role in sustainability transitions, emphasizing the importance of social dynamics in driving change.
  4. Nature-Based Solutions:
    There is a notable trend towards exploring nature-based solutions for addressing sustainability challenges, including climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
  5. Systems Resilience and Adaptation:
    Research centered on resilience and adaptation strategies within social-ecological systems is gaining attention, highlighting the need for flexibility and responsiveness in sustainability efforts.
  6. Digital Innovations and Sustainability:
    The integration of digital technologies and data analytics in sustainability research is emerging as a significant theme, offering new tools and methodologies for addressing complex problems.

Declining or Waning

While Sustainability Science continues to evolve, certain themes have shown a decline in prominence, reflecting changing priorities within the field. This section highlights those areas that are becoming less frequent in discussion and research focus.
  1. Traditional Environmental Management:
    There is a noticeable decline in papers focusing solely on traditional environmental management approaches, as the journal shifts towards more integrated and systemic perspectives.
  2. Purely Theoretical Frameworks:
    Research that relies heavily on theoretical frameworks without empirical validation is becoming less common, as the journal increasingly values empirical evidence and case studies.
  3. Sector-Specific Studies:
    There is a waning interest in studies that focus narrowly on specific sectors (e.g., agriculture, forestry) without considering their interconnections with other sectors and systems.
  4. Single-Dimensional Assessments:
    Research that offers single-dimensional assessments of sustainability issues, such as solely environmental or economic analyses, is less favored compared to multi-dimensional approaches.
  5. Focus on Local Contexts Only:
    Papers that discuss sustainability challenges in isolation from global contexts or broader systems are becoming less prevalent, as there is a push for more holistic views.

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