Journal profile · Social Sciences-Geography, Planning and Development
Geography and Sustainability
ISSN 2096-7438 · eISSN 2666-6839 · Beijing Normal University Press · Netherlands
Geography and Sustainability: CAS Zone 1 · Environmental Science & Ecology (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 9.8 (journal website); fully open access; APC about USD 1,700; review about 264 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); 99 articles in 2025; indexed in ESCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Geography and Sustainability is published by Beijing Normal University Press and is in Zone 1 of Environmental Science & Ecology in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Land Use and Ecosystem Services, Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management and Urban Green Space and Health, together about 35% of its articles. Its main subfields are Global and Planetary Change. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Geography and Sustainability aims to serve as the focal point for developing, coordinating and implementing interdisciplinary research and education to promote sustainable development through an integrated geography perspective. The journal encourages wider analysis and innovative thinking about global and regional sustainability by bridging and synthesising natural and human sciences.Geography and Sustainability welcomes original, high-quality research articles, review articles, short communications, technical comments, perspective articles and editorials on the following themes:Geographical Processes: Interactions with and between water, soil, atmosphere and the biosphere and their spatio-temporal variations;Human-Environmental Systems: Interactions between humans and the environment, resilience of socio-ecological systems and vulnerability;Ecosystem Services and Human Wellbeing: Ecosystem structure, processes, services and their linkages with human wellbeing;Sustainable Development: Theory, practice and critical challenges in sustainable development;Geo-data and Sustainability Models: Geodata and models to support sustainable development and decision-making
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Social Sciences-Geography, Planning and Development
Editor-in-chief Bojie FuPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 45 in mainland China (about 46%); most named Mainland China 45, United States 13, Australia 6, Hong Kong, China 4, United Kingdom 3 (98 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Land Use and Ecosystem ServicesEnvironmental Science24%
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource ManagementEnvironmental Science5.7%
- Urban Green Space and HealthEnvironmental Science5.2%
- Rangeland Management and Livestock EcologyEnvironmental Science4.9%
- Urban Transport and AccessibilitySocial Sciences4.2%
- Environmental Impact and SustainabilityEnvironmental Science4%
- Species Distribution and Climate ChangeEnvironmental Science4%
- Sustainability and Climate Change GovernanceEnvironmental Science3.9%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Environmental Science & Ecology Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Environmental Science & Ecology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Geography, Physical | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Green & Sustainable Science & Technology | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Environmental Science & Ecology Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Environmental Science & Ecology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Green & Sustainable Science & Technology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Geography, Physical | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Environmental Science & Ecology Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Environmental Science & Ecology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Geography, Physical | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Green & Sustainable Science & Technology | Zone 1 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
ESCIScopusDOAJLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 9.8Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 11.3LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 11.3Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 2.03LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.93LetPub ·
- h-index
- 50OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 201OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 5.71OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 5.1%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 100%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 124LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 466 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 108 | 108 | 48 |
| 2025 | 99 | 99 | 416 |
| 2024 | 92 | 92 | 1,242 |
| 2023 | 49 | 49 | 1,151 |
| 2022 | 44 | 44 | 1,475 |
| 2021 | 37 | 37 | 2,776 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
264 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 18 weeks
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 18 weeksLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 6 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 61 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 264 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 4 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to publication (journal-reported)
- about 44 weeksDOAJ ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewDOAJ
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Fully open accessDOAJ
Every article is open access; authors usually pay an article processing charge (APC).
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOAJ | USD 1,700 | Yes | CC BY, CC BY-NC-ND | |
| OpenAlex | USD 1,700 / EUR 1,590 / GBP 1,360 / JPY 210,850 | — | — | |
| LetPub | USD 1,700 | Yes | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 1,700 | — | — |
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers1, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare6 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 1
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 8,000 words
- Reference style
- Vancouver
- Highlights
- Optional
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
Article types accepted15, with length limits
- book reviewd geography and sustainability science. Book reviews are generally short articles with approximately 1,000 words and up to 10 references. 10. News and Views: Ne…main text ≤ 1,000 words
- commentComment: Comments are opinionated articles on a topical scientific issue, a relevant policy or a newly published article in the journal.Length not stated
- editorial1. Full Length Article: A full-length article should be a substantial and in-depth research study regarding a particular state of issue through several techniqu…main text ≤ 3,000 words
- full length articleFull Length Article: A full-length article should be a substantial and in-depth research study regarding a particular state of issue through several techniques …Length not stated
- highlightHighlight: Highlights aim to highlight and explain potential scientific importance of a most recent exciting research work.Length not stated
- hypothesis1. Full Length Article: A full-length article should be a substantial and in-depth research study regarding a particular state of issue through several techniqu…Length not stated
- letteres an important, novel research result. Letters are usually not divided by section headings, and are generally approximately 1,000 words including introductory …main text ≤ 1,000 words
- letter to the editorLetter to the editor: Letter to the editor is for scientific comments on recently published articles or discusses an important, novel research result.Length not stated
- news and viewsNews and Views: New and views articles inform readers about new scientific advances or important events in the field of integrated geography and sustainability …Length not stated
- opinion1. Full Length Article: A full-length article should be a substantial and in-depth research study regarding a particular state of issue through several techniqu…Length not stated
- perspective1. Full Length Article: A full-length article should be a substantial and in-depth research study regarding a particular state of issue through several techniqu…main text ≤ 5,000 words
- review1. Full Length Article: A full-length article should be a substantial and in-depth research study regarding a particular state of issue through several techniqu…Length not stated
- review article1. Full Length Article: A full-length article should be a substantial and in-depth research study regarding a particular state of issue through several techniqu…Length not stated
- short communication1. Full Length Article: A full-length article should be a substantial and in-depth research study regarding a particular state of issue through several techniqu…main text ≤ 3,000 words
- viewpoint1. Full Length Article: A full-length article should be a substantial and in-depth research study regarding a particular state of issue through several techniqu…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability
Jurisdictional claims Model summary
Elsevier respects the decisions taken by its authors as to how they choose to designate territories and identify their affiliations in their published content.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
Ethics in publishing Model summary
Authors must follow ethical guidelines stated in Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Double anonymized peer review Model summary
This journal follows a double anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Beijing Normal University Press
- Country or region
- Netherlands
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 2096-7438
- Electronic ISSN
- 2666-6839
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗DOAJ
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Author guidelines ↗DOAJ
- Aims & Scope ↗DOAJ
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
- APC information ↗DOAJ
- Fee waivers ↗DOAJ
- Open access statement ↗DOAJ
- License & copyright ↗DOAJ
- Peer review process ↗DOAJ
- Editorial board ↗DOAJ
- Plagiarism policy ↗DOAJ
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Geography and Sustainability
What CAS zone is Geography and Sustainability in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Geography and Sustainability is in Zone 1 of Environmental Science & Ecology, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Geography, Physical / Green & Sustainable Science & Technology; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 1 of Environmental Science & Ecology. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Geography and Sustainability?
The journal's website gives an impact factor of 9.8; this is the journal's own figure, as LetPub lists none for it; CiteScore 11.3, h-index 50.
How long does peer review take at Geography and Sustainability?
The publisher reports about 264 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 18 weeks. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Geography and Sustainability?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: ≥ 1; Manuscript length: ≤ 8,000 words; Reference style: Vancouver; Highlights: Optional; Graphical abstract: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Geography and Sustainability based?
Of the 98 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 45 (about 46%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (45), United States (13) and Australia (6). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Geography and Sustainability?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Geography and Sustainability is indexed in ESCI, Scopus and DOAJ.
Is Geography and Sustainability open access, and what is the APC?
Geography and Sustainability is a fully open-access journal. APC about USD 1,700.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex, DOAJ; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-28). Last updated: .