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Article Processing Charge

  1. ARTICLE PROCESSING CHARGES (APC) POLICY

    General Information on JESSD's Article Processing Charges
    The Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development operates as a full open-access journal, providing immediate, unrestricted access to all published content without subscription barriers. This publishing model maximizes the dissemination, visibility, and impact of our authors' research while ensuring long-term sustainability of our publishing operations.
    Our carefully calibrated APC structure supports numerous essential publishing functions, including rigorous peer review administration, professional editorial services, advanced digital publishing technologies, and comprehensive indexing—all critical components in maintaining the high standards expected of a Scopus-indexed journal.

    Comprehensive APC Framework

    Effective May 15, 2025, JESSD introduces a transparent and flexible APC framework with three distinct options to accommodate diverse author circumstances:

    Option 1: Enhanced Contribution
    Authors who wish to provide additional support to JESSD's scholarly mission may voluntarily contribute beyond the standard APC. These funds directly enable journal sustainability, enhancement of editorial processes, and support for researchers with financial constraints.

    Choose your enhanced contribution level:

    1. USD 500 (Supporting Contributor)
    2. USD 750 (Sustaining Contributor)
    3. USD 750+ (Visionary Contributor)

    All enhanced contributors receive priority publication scheduling, extended promotional support for their published work across our platforms, and acknowledgment in our annual contributors report.

    Option 2: Standard APC
    The standard Article Processing Charge is USD 250 per accepted manuscript. This fee becomes applicable only after a manuscript has successfully completed our rigorous peer review process and received a formal acceptance decision.

    Option 3: Discount Request
    JESSD recognizes that researchers may face financial constraints, particularly those from developing regions or early-career scholars without dedicated publication funding. Authors may request a discount by contacting the editorial committee directly with specific justification.

    Please note:

    1. Discount requests require authors to commit to substantial manuscript reviews for future JESSD submissions
    2. Discounts are only available for papers not funded through grants or institutional financial support
    3. The final discount amount will be determined by the journal editorial committee based on individual circumstances and available resources
    4. Authors receiving discounts agree to acknowledge JESSD's support in future academic presentations

    Our flexible APC structure reflects JESSD's commitment to both sustainability and accessibility in scholarly publishing, ensuring quality research can be shared regardless of financial circumstances.

    Publication Agreement Requirement
    Authors selecting Options 1, 2, or 3 must complete and sign a formal Publication Agreement with JESSD that outlines:

    • The specific arrangement selected
    • Mutual commitments between authors and the journal
    • Terms and conditions of the arrangement
    • Duration and scope of the agreement
    This signed agreement ensures clarity and transparency while formalizing the relationship between authors and JESSD.

    Important Note: The APC selection process operates entirely independently from the manuscript evaluation process. Editorial decisions are based solely on scientific merit, methodological rigor, and alignment with the journal's scope, without consideration of the authors' selected APC option.

    Services Covered by the APC
    The APC covers comprehensive publication services, including:

    • Thorough management of the double-blind peer review process
    • Professional content editing and structural formatting
    • Assignment and registration of persistent Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs)
    • Search engine optimization for improved discoverability
    • Long-term digital preservation through multiple archiving systems
    • Comprehensive indexing in major academic databases including Scopus
    • Perpetual hosting on our secure, state-of-the-art publishing platform
    • Technical support for authors and readers
    • Presenting their published research in JESSD-sponsored webinars

    APC Waiver and Discount Program
    JESSD is committed to promoting scholarly communication from all regions of the world and recognizes that financial constraints should not impede the dissemination of valuable scientific research. Our comprehensive waiver and discount program supports researchers facing genuine financial limitations:

    Eligibility Criteria:

    • Researchers based in Low-Income or Lower-Middle-Income countries as classified by the World Bank
    • Early-career researchers without institutional or grant funding, upon verification
    • Research addressing critical environmental challenges in economically disadvantaged regions
    • Authors facing documented temporary financial hardship due to exceptional circumstances

    Waiver Types:

    • Full waivers: Complete exemption from APC (limited availability)
    • Partial waivers: Reduced APC of USD 125 (50% reduction)
    • Deferred payment plans: Extended payment schedules for qualifying authors
    Waiver applications must be submitted prior to manuscript submission through our dedicated online form, accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. Each application undergoes thorough review by our Waiver Committee, which operates independently from the editorial team to ensure impartial evaluation.

    Payment Methods and Procedures
    Upon receiving formal acceptance of a manuscript, the corresponding author will receive an official invoice along with detailed payment instructions. JESSD offers multiple secure payment options:

    • Secure Bank Transfer: Complete banking details will be provided on the invoice
    • PayPal: For convenient international transactions with minimal processing fees
    • Institutional Payment: For authors whose institutions maintain a payment agreement with JESSD
    All financial transactions are processed through secure channels, with appropriate encryption and data protection measures in place. Official receipts and payment confirmations are issued promptly upon verification of payment.

    APC Refund Policy
    Given the substantial resources allocated to manuscript processing, APCs are generally non-refundable once payment has been processed.

  2. MANDATORY PROFESSIONAL PROOFREADING POLICY

    Professional Proofreading Requirement
    In alignment with our commitment to publishing excellence and to ensure consistency with international language standards, JESSD has implemented a mandatory professional proofreading requirement for all accepted manuscripts. This policy ensures linguistic clarity, precision, and readability across all our publications, enhancing both comprehension and impact.
    All manuscripts accepted for publication must be accompanied by certification of professional proofreading from one of the following internationally recognized language editing services:

    The proofreading certificate must be submitted after manuscript acceptance and before the commencement of production. This requirement applies universally to all manuscripts regardless of the authors' native language or English proficiency, ensuring consistent quality throughout our published content.
    Important Note for Ongoing Submissions: For manuscripts submitted before April 10, 2025, that are still under review or in the publication pipeline, the mandatory proofreading requirement will still apply once your article is accepted.

    Editorial Proofreading Option
    Recognizing that some authors may face challenges in accessing external proofreading services, JESSD offers an alternative editorial proofreading service through our specialized editorial team. Authors who opt for this service will be charged an additional fee, which covers comprehensive language editing, technical terminology verification, and formatting adjustments.
    This service includes:

    • Comprehensive language editing by subject-matter experts
    • Technical terminology verification
    • Standardization of scientific nomenclature and units
    • Formatting according to JESSD guidelines
    • Follow-up support for author queries
    Authors interested in utilizing this service should contact the editorial office at for detailed information regarding costs and turnaround times.

  3. ARTICLE WITHDRAWAL POLICY

    Understanding Manuscript Withdrawal

    Manuscript withdrawal refers to the removal of a manuscript from the publication process after it has been formally submitted to JESSD. The journal strongly discourages withdrawals as they significantly disrupt the scholarly publishing ecosystem and represent a misuse of valuable academic resources.
    When authors submit a manuscript to JESSD, they initiate a comprehensive review process that involves multiple stakeholders—editors, peer reviewers, and editorial staff. Withdrawal nullifies these investments and potentially delays the publication of other valuable research.

    Anti-Withdrawal Agreement
    To reinforce the seriousness of manuscript submission and protect the integrity of the scholarly publication process, all authors must sign an Anti-Withdrawal Agreement at the time of submission. This binding document confirms the authors' intention to proceed with publication if their manuscript meets quality standards and acknowledges understanding of JESSD's withdrawal policy and applicable penalties.

    Withdrawal Policy Framework
    The only circumstance under which withdrawal may be considered without penalty is if there has been no update on review progress for more than six months from our editorial team, despite documented follow-up inquiries from the authors. In all other situations, manuscript withdrawal is strongly discouraged and, if granted, will be subject to significant penalties.

    Withdrawal Penalties
    To discourage unwarranted withdrawals and compensate for resources already expended, JESSD implements the following penalty structure:

    1. For manuscripts in the review process: If authors request withdrawal during the peer review phase (after initial screening but before final decision), a penalty fee of USD 500 will be applied.
    2. For accepted manuscripts: Withdrawal of a manuscript after it has received an acceptance decision but before entering production incurs a penalty of USD 750.
    3. For manuscripts in production: The penalty for withdrawal at this stage remains USD 1000 and reflects the substantial resources already invested in preparing the manuscript for publication.

    Consequences of Non-Compliance
    Authors who request withdrawal but fail to pay the applicable penalty will face the following progressive consequences:

    1. The authors named on the manuscript will be blacklisted from future submissions to JESSD.
    2. The authors' institutional affiliations will be formally notified of the non-compliance with clear documentation of the circumstances.
    3. If non-compliance persists, the institutions themselves may be blacklisted for a specified period.

    Withdrawal Request Procedure
    If authors believe they have legitimate grounds for withdrawal, they must follow this procedure:

    1. The corresponding author must submit a formal withdrawal request to using the same email address used during submission.
    2. The request must include the manuscript ID, title, a detailed explanation of the circumstances necessitating withdrawal, and acknowledgment of the applicable penalties.
    3. All co-authors must be copied on this communication to ensure transparency.
    4. The editorial team will review the request and respond with a decision, typically within 10 working days.
    5. If withdrawal is approved, an invoice for the applicable penalty will be issued.
    6. The manuscript will be officially withdrawn from our system only after full payment of the penalty.

    Implementation Timeline
    These comprehensive policies regarding Article Processing Charges, professional proofreading requirements, and manuscript withdrawal will take effect for all manuscripts submitted on or after April 10, 2025.
    For questions, clarification, or assistance regarding these policies, please contact: JESSD Editorial Office Email:
    We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we implement these measures to strengthen JESSD's position as a leading Scopus-indexed journal in environmental science and sustainable development.