Ethic_Statement

      1. Publication Ethics Statement

Environmental Science Journal (ESJO) is committed to maintaining the integrity, transparency, objectivity, and quality of scientific publications in the field of environmental science. This publication ethics policy serves as a guideline for authors, editors, reviewers, and all parties involved in the publication process. All parties are expected to fulfill their responsibilities professionally to ensure that published articles adhere to the principles of academic honesty, originality, scientific accuracy, and respect for the rights and interests of others.

ESJO upholds publication ethics principles based on best practices in scholarly publishing, including the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), as well as relevant applicable regulations. All submitted manuscripts must be original works that have not been previously published and are not currently under consideration for publication by another journal.

2. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for ensuring that submitted manuscripts are original works based on reliable and verifiable data and information, and are free from plagiarism, data fabrication, and falsification of research findings. All sources used must be properly cited and included in the reference list.

Authors must ensure that all individuals listed as authors have made substantial scholarly contributions, approved the final version of the manuscript, and agreed to its submission to ESJO. Individuals who do not meet the authorship criteria should, where appropriate, be acknowledged in the acknowledgments section.

Authors are required to disclose research funding sources, potential conflicts of interest, and any ethical approvals or research permits required according to the nature of the study and applicable regulations. Authors are also responsible for providing clarification or issuing corrections when errors are identified that affect the accuracy or integrity of a published article.

3. Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for evaluating manuscripts objectively based on their scientific quality, relevance to the journal's focus and scope, originality, and compliance with publication ethics. Editorial decisions must be based on academic considerations and must not be influenced by personal background, institutional affiliation, nationality, gender, religion, or other factors unrelated to the scientific quality of the manuscript.

Editors must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and must not use information obtained during the editorial process for personal benefit. Editors must also avoid conflicts of interest and take appropriate action when suspected ethical violations arise, including coordinating with relevant parties to investigate the matter and determine the necessary follow-up actions.

4. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are responsible for providing objective, constructive, and professional evaluations of the manuscripts assigned to them. Reviews should focus on scientific validity, methodology, analytical accuracy, clarity of presentation, relevance of references, and the article's contribution to the advancement of environmental science.

Reviewers must maintain manuscript confidentiality and must not disclose or use unpublished information for personal benefit. They are also required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest. If reviewers lack the appropriate expertise or are unable to complete a review within the specified timeframe, they should inform the editor. Reviewers are also expected to report suspected plagiarism, data manipulation, or other ethical violations to the editor, providing relevant supporting reasons.

5. Data Fabrication, Falsification, and Manipulation

Authors are prohibited from fabricating data, which involves creating data or research findings that were never obtained, and falsifying data, which involves altering, omitting, or manipulating data or research procedures in a manner that produces an inaccurate representation of the findings. Figures, tables, measurements, statistical analyses, and interpretations must accurately reflect the research results.

If suspected data manipulation or serious inconsistencies in research reporting are identified, the editor has the right to request explanations or relevant supporting documentation and to take appropriate editorial action based on the findings of the investigation.

6. Duplicate Publication and Simultaneous Submission

Manuscripts submitted to ESJO must not be under consideration for publication by another journal and must not constitute republication of a previously published article without an acceptable basis and appropriate disclosure. Authors are required to disclose any relationship between their submitted manuscript and previous publications, including the reuse of data or substantial portions of previously published text.

Redundant publication, duplicate publication, and simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to multiple journals are prohibited. Exceptions may be considered only when they comply with applicable publication ethics standards, are transparently disclosed, and have received the necessary approvals.

7. Conflicts of Interest

Authors, editors, and reviewers are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that may influence, or reasonably be perceived to influence, the objectivity of the research, evaluation, or publication process. Conflicts of interest may involve financial relationships, employment, institutional affiliations, collaborations, personal relationships, or other professional interests.

The disclosure of a conflict of interest does not automatically result in manuscript rejection. The editor will assess the nature and extent of the conflict and determine the appropriate measures needed to maintain the objectivity and integrity of the editorial process.

8. Research Involving Humans, Animals, and the Environment

Research involving human participants or animals must comply with relevant ethical requirements, consent procedures, and authorization requirements according to the nature of the research and applicable regulations. Where required, authors must provide information regarding ethical approval, informed consent, identity protection, and relevant research permits.

For environmental research involving sample collection, the use of organisms, access to specific areas, or other activities requiring authorization, authors must ensure that the research is conducted responsibly and in accordance with applicable regulations. Research methods, data sources, sampling procedures, and study limitations must be reported transparently.

9. Use of Artificial Intelligence

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in manuscript preparation or editing must be conducted responsibly and transparently in accordance with the journal's policies. AI tools cannot be listed as authors because they cannot assume responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and content of a publication.

Authors remain fully responsible for verifying the accuracy of all information, references, data, analyses, and manuscript content generated or assisted by AI. Substantive use of AI in writing or processing scientific material must be disclosed in accordance with the journal's policies. The use of language assistance or basic editing tools may be addressed proportionately in the author guidelines.

Editors and reviewers must not upload unpublished manuscripts or confidential materials to AI services that do not guarantee confidentiality and data protection. The use of AI in the editorial process must preserve manuscript confidentiality and must not replace the professional responsibilities of editors or reviewers.

10. Handling Allegations of Ethical Misconduct

ESJO will address allegations of publication ethics violations objectively, fairly, and based on evidence. Individuals with relevant information may submit reports to the editor or journal management for further assessment. The parties concerned may be asked to provide clarification before a decision is made.

If a violation is established, possible actions include requests for revision or clarification, manuscript rejection, publication of a correction, issuance of an expression of concern, or article retraction, depending on the severity of the violation and applicable publication ethics practices. Actions will be proportionate to the circumstances and intended to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

11. Corrections and Retractions

ESJO is committed to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of published articles. Errors that can be corrected without changing the main conclusions may be addressed through the publication of a correction. If serious issues affect the reliability of the findings or the integrity of an article, the journal may issue an expression of concern or retract the article based on the results of an investigation.

Every correction or retraction must include a clear explanation of the reasons for the action and be linked to the relevant article to maintain transparency in the scholarly record.

12. Confidentiality and Integrity of the Publication Process

All parties involved in the ESJO publication process must maintain the confidentiality of information obtained during manuscript submission, peer review, and editorial decision-making. Information contained in unpublished manuscripts must not be used for personal benefit or disclosed without appropriate authorization.

ESJO strives to ensure that the editorial process is conducted independently, transparently, fairly, and consistently. Through the implementation of these principles, ESJO is committed to supporting responsible scholarly publishing that contributes to the advancement of scientific knowledge and sustainable environmental management.