Ethics and Policies

The Journal of Sustainable Finance (JSF) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing. The journal follows internationally recognized best practices and adheres to the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). These policies apply to authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher.

1. Publication Ethics and Integrity

JSF ensures that all published research is:

  • Original, methodologically sound, and academically rigorous
  • Conducted ethically and reported transparently
  • Free from plagiarism, data manipulation, or selective reporting
  • Relevant to sustainable finance, ESG, climate finance, and related fields

Any unethical practice will be addressed in accordance with COPE guidelines.

2. Authorship and Contributorship

2.1 Authorship Criteria

Authorship is limited to individuals who have contributed substantially to:

  • Research design, conceptualization, or theoretical development
  • Data collection, analysis, or interpretation
  • Drafting or critically revising the manuscript
  • Final approval of the submitted version

All authors must approve submission and publication.

2.2 Unacceptable Practices

JSF does not permit:

  • Ghost authorship
  • Gift or honorary authorship
  • Unauthorized changes to authorship after submission

Any authorship modification requires written consent from all authors.

3. Plagiarism and Originality

All submissions must be original and not under review elsewhere.

Plagiarism includes:

  • Copying without proper citation
  • Self-plagiarism or duplicate publication
  • Improper paraphrasing or unattributed ideas

Manuscripts violating originality standards may be rejected or retracted.

4. Data Integrity and Research Transparency

Authors are expected to:

  • Report data and results accurately and transparently
  • Avoid fabrication, falsification, or selective reporting
  • Retain data for verification when required
  • Promote reproducibility and transparency in research

Data availability statements are encouraged where appropriate.

5. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI tool usage must be clearly disclosed.

AI tools:

  • May assist in language editing, formatting, or analysis
  • Must not replace academic judgement or intellectual contribution
  • Must not be credited as authors
  • Must not generate fabricated data, references, or results

Undisclosed AI use may result in rejection.

6. Ethical Approval and Human Subjects

Research involving human participants or organisations must:

  • Comply with institutional and national ethical standards
  • Obtain ethical approval where required
  • Ensure informed consent, confidentiality, and anonymity

Authors must clearly state ethical approval or justify exemptions.

7. Conflict of Interest Policy

All stakeholders must disclose conflicts of interest, including:

  • Financial support or funding relationships
  • Employment, consultancy, or advisory positions
  • Personal or professional relationships affecting objectivity

All disclosures will be reviewed for transparency.

8. Peer Review Policy

JSF operates a double-blind peer review system.

Review Process:

  • Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two independent experts
  • Reviewers are selected based on expertise in sustainable finance and related fields
  • Reviewer reports are confidential

Reviewer Responsibilities:

  • Provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback
  • Maintain confidentiality
  • Disclose conflicts of interest
  • Report ethical concerns to editors

9. Editorial Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for:

  • Ensuring fair and unbiased editorial decisions
  • Maintaining confidentiality of all submissions
  • Managing conflicts of interest appropriately
  • Upholding ethical and academic standards

Editorial decisions are based solely on academic merit and relevance.

10. Open Access Policy

JSF is a fully open-access journal:

  • All published content is freely accessible worldwide
  • No subscription fees are charged
  • Publication is currently free; No fees/APC will be charged for articles, and no surcharges will apply for the length of an article, for illustrations and figures (including color figures), and for supplementary data unless noted otherwise.
  • APC supports editorial processes, peer review, and digital preservation

11. Copyright and Licensing Policy

  • Authors retain copyright of their work
  • Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) Licence
  • Users may share and adapt content with proper attribution

12. Retractions, Corrections, and Expressions of Concern

JSF may issue:

  • Corrections for minor errors
  • Retractions for serious ethical violations
  • Expressions of concern during ongoing investigations

All actions follow COPE guidelines and are transparently documented.

13. Complaints and Appeals

  • Authors may appeal editorial decisions with a reasoned justification to the Editor-in-Chief
  • Complaints regarding peer review, editorial conduct, or ethics are handled confidentially and fairly

14. Archiving and Preservation Policy

To ensure long-term accessibility:

  • All articles are digitally archived
  • DOI registration ensures permanent access and citation stability
  • Content remains accessible even if publication ceases

15. Advertising and Sponsorship Policy

  • JSF does not accept advertising that influences editorial independence
  • Any sponsorship is fully disclosed
  • Editorial decisions remain completely independent

16. Compliance with International Standards

JSF adheres to:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
  • DOAJ Principles of Transparency and Best Practice
  • International standards for ethical scholarly publishing