Instructions To Authors

Manuscript Preparation Guidelines

(Research Articles)

1. General Submission Requirements

Manuscripts submitted to Journal of Environmental Sustainability, Policy & Systems (JESPS) must present original, unpublished work that is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Submissions should be written in clear, concise English and formatted according to the guidelines outlined below.

Research articles should present theoretical, empirical, or applied research with clear relevance to environmental sustainability, policy, governance, and systems-based analysis.

2. Manuscript Length

  • Research Articles: 6,000–8,000 words (excluding references)

  • Abstract: Maximum 250 words

  • Keywords: 4–6 keywords

3. Manuscript File Format

  • File type: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx)

  • Page size: A4

  • Font: Times New Roman, 12-point

  • Line spacing: 1.5

  • Margins: 1 inch on all sides

  • Page numbers: Bottom center or bottom right

4. Manuscript Structure

Research articles should be organized in the following order:

4.1 Title Page

The title page should include:

  • Full title of the manuscript (concise and informative)

  • Full names of all authors

  • Institutional affiliations (department, institution, country)

  • Corresponding author’s email address

  • ORCID IDs (optional but encouraged)

4.2 Abstract

The abstract should be structured or unstructured, clearly summarizing:

  • Research background

  • Objectives

  • Methods

  • Key findings

  • Policy or practical implications

The abstract should be written as a single paragraph and should not contain references, tables, or figures.

4.3 Keywords

Provide 4–6 keywords that reflect the main themes of the paper and support indexing and discoverability.

4.4 Introduction

The introduction should:

  • Clearly define the research problem

  • Provide relevant background and context

  • Explain the significance of the study

  • State the research objectives and/or research questions

  • Outline the contribution of the study to existing literature and policy practice

Avoid an extensive literature review in this section.

4.5 Literature Review (or Theoretical Framework)

This section should:

  • Critically review relevant and recent literature

  • Identify gaps in existing research

  • Present theoretical frameworks or conceptual models where applicable

  • Clearly position the study within the existing body of knowledge

4.6 Methodology / Materials and Methods

The methodology section should provide sufficient detail to allow replication and evaluation. It should include:

  • Research design and approach

  • Data sources and data collection methods

  • Sampling techniques (if applicable)

  • Variables, indicators, or analytical frameworks

  • Data analysis methods and tools

  • Ethical considerations (if human or institutional data is involved)

Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies are acceptable.

4.7 Results / Findings

This section should:

  • Present findings clearly and objectively

  • Use tables and figures where appropriate

  • Avoid interpretation or discussion beyond factual reporting

  • Ensure all tables and figures are cited in the text

4.8 Discussion

The discussion should:

  • Interpret the results in relation to the research objectives

  • Compare findings with existing studies

  • Explain theoretical, practical, and policy implications

  • Discuss limitations of the study

Results and Discussion may be combined if appropriate.

4.9 Policy Implications (Strongly Encouraged)

Authors are encouraged to include a dedicated section discussing:

  • Implications for policy design or implementation

  • Institutional or governance relevance

  • Practical applications for decision-makers

4.10 Conclusion

The conclusion should:

  • Summarize key findings

  • Highlight the main contributions of the study

  • Suggest directions for future research

  • Avoid introducing new data or references

4.11 Acknowledgements (Optional)

Acknowledgements should be brief and placed before the references.

4.12 Funding Statement (If Applicable)

Authors must disclose sources of financial support or state “No external funding was received.”

4.13 Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors must declare any potential conflicts of interest or explicitly state that none exist.

4.14 References

JESPS follows the APA (7th Edition) referencing style.

In-text citations:

  • Single author: (Smith, 2022)

  • Two authors: (Smith & Kumar, 2021)

  • Three or more authors: (Smith et al., 2020)

Reference list:

  • References should be listed alphabetically

  • All references cited in the text must appear in the reference list and vice versa

5. Tables and Figures

  • Tables and figures should be numbered consecutively

  • Titles should be placed above tables and below figures

  • Figures should be of high resolution

  • Source must be acknowledged if adapted or reproduced

6. Language and Editing

Authors whose first language is not English are encouraged to have their manuscript professionally edited prior to submission.

Review Articles

Review Articles should be approximately upto 18 pages in length, provide comprehensive and up-to-date coverage of relevant literature, and preferably be authored by researchers with demonstrated expertise in the subject area. Review articles must include an Abstract and Introduction. Other sections may be organized as appropriate for the topic. All formatting requirements are the same as those for Research Articles.

Short Communications

Short Communications report novel findings, preliminary results, or focused studies that do not warrant a full-length article. These manuscripts should not exceed 5 pages and should follow the same formatting requirements as full papers. Subheadings such as Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion should be avoided and merged into a single continuous text. Short Communications should preferably include no more than 3–4 figures or tables.