Journal profile · Environmental Sciences
Global Change Biology
ISSN 1354-1013 · eISSN 1365-2486 · Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd · ENGLAND · Bimonthly · Founded 1995
Global Change Biology: CAS Zone 1 · Environmental Science & Ecology (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 12.54; hybrid open access; APC about USD 4,550; median 124 days to acceptance (131 articles, last 24 months); community-reported acceptance: about 37.5%; 681 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Global Change Biology is published by Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd 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 Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics, Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics and Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies, together about 29% of its articles. Its main subfields are Global and Planetary Change. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Global Change Biology exists to promote understanding of the interface between all aspects of current environmental change that affects a substantial part of the globe and biological systems. It publishes articles on the impacts of global change on biological systems and solutions.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Environmental Sciences
Editor-in-chief Actions ToolsPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 66 in mainland China (about 38%); most named Mainland China 66, United States 22, Australia 15, United Kingdom 11, Canada 9 (173 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon DynamicsEnvironmental Science11.7%
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen DynamicsAgricultural and Biological Sciences9.5%
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics StudiesEnvironmental Science7.8%
- Species Distribution and Climate ChangeEnvironmental Science7.7%
- Plant responses to elevated CO2Agricultural and Biological Sciences5.8%
- Peatlands and Wetlands EcologyEnvironmental Science5.8%
- Atmospheric and Environmental Gas DynamicsEnvironmental Science4.1%
- Tree-ring climate responsesEarth and Planetary Sciences3.9%
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 | Biodiversity Conservation | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Ecology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Environmental Sciences | 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 | Biodiversity Conservation | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Ecology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Environmental Sciences | 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 | Biodiversity Conservation | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Ecology | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Environmental Sciences | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
MEDLINEPubMedCASCAB AbstractsCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: EBSCO, ProQuest, AGRICOLA
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
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
- 12.54LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 12.5Publisher website ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 12.5Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 21.1LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 21.1Publisher website ·
- CiteScore (publisher) 2025
- 21.1Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 4.58LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 3.12LetPub ·
- h-index
- 217LetPub ·
- h-index
- 407OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 8,000OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 11.09OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 4%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 55.41%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 570LetPub ·
- Articles per year (publisher)
- 2Publisher website ·
- Articles per year (publisher) 2025
- 637Publisher website ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 4,525,868Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 9,942 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 463 | 329 | 550 |
| 2025 | 681 | 520 | 6,641 |
| 2024 | 544 | 441 | 11,529 |
| 2023 | 564 | 430 | 20,112 |
| 2022 | 541 | 352 | 28,929 |
| 2021 | 593 | 366 | 40,223 |
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
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
124 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 95 days – 188 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 21 days (131 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 152 days
- Sample
- 131 articles with submission and acceptance dates (1,225 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 3.3 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- 37.5%LetPub ·
- Acceptance rate (publisher)
- 13%Publisher website ·
- Acceptance rate (publisher) 2025
- 13%Publisher website ·
- Submission to first decision
- 6 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to first decision 2025
- 6 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance 2025
- 103 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication 2025
- 24 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Single-anonymous peer reviewPublisher website · model-extracted
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
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 4,550 / EUR 3,870 / GBP 3,180 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | Yes, amount not published | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
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)
What to prepare1 items from the author guidelines
- Suggested reviewers
- Required, 5
Article types accepted19, with length limits
- editorialOpinions are a re-analysis, or challenge to prevailing views on a topical issue. While this category of article is designed to allow expression of viewpoints th…main text ≤ 1,500 words
- letters to the editorLetters to the Editor are a well-reasoned challenge to a recently published article in GCB or any article in a high-profile scientific journal of relevance to t…Length not stated
- mini revieweloped plan, and end with a Conclusion. Mini Reviews should be no more than 3000 words (count includes Abstract, Introduction, body, Conclusions amain text ≤ 3,000 words
- mini reviewsMini Reviews are summaries of current topics or recent updates of high interest within the fields covered by GCB in a concise style.Length not stated
- opinionGlobal Change Biology will consider the following manuscript types: Original Research Research Articles present the results of a completed research project and …Length not stated
- opinionsOpinions are a re-analysis, or challenge to prevailing views on a topical issue.Length not stated
- original researchGlobal Change Biology will consider the following manuscript types: Original Research Research Articles present the results of a completed research project and …main text ≤ 8,000 words
- perspectiveGlobal Change Biology will consider the following manuscript types: Original Research Research Articles present the results of a completed research project and …main text ≤ 5,000 words
- perspectivesPerspectives are a review or re-analysis that challenges prevailing views on a topical issue.Length not stated
- research articleGlobal Change Biology will consider the following manuscript types: Original Research Research Articles present the results of a completed research project and …Length not stated
- research articlesResearch Articles present the results of a completed research project and are up to 8000 words in length.Length not stated
- research highlightsResearch Highlights are discussions highlighting the novelty of a recently published GCB article.Length not stated
- research reportsResearch Reports are expert scientific reports, which outline the direction of a relevant research area, integrated experimental network, etc.Length not stated
- responsesResponses are an invited response to a Letter to the Editor.Length not stated
- reviewGlobal Change Biology will consider the following manuscript types: Original Research Research Articles present the results of a completed research project and …main text ≤ 8,000 words
- reviewsReviews examine a defined specialist subject that is of topical interest.Length not stated
- science behind the newsScience behind the News provide a timely, objective and data-driven scientific analysis of the implications of the current environmental crisis on biological sy…Length not stated
- technical advancesTechnical Advances present exciting new research tools, methods, and techniques, including new modelling approaches, and should include a detailed description o…Length not stated
- viewpointGlobal Change Biology will consider the following manuscript types: Original Research Research Articles present the results of a completed research project and …Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, Open access, Peer review
- AI use Artificial Intelligence Generated Content
Artificial Intelligence Generated Content (AIGC) tools—such as ChatGPT and others based on large language models (LLMs)—cannot be considered capable of initiating an original piece of research without direction by human authors. They also cannot be accountable for a published work or for research design, which is a generally held requirement of authorship (as discussed in the previous section), no…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship
Authors must give final approval of the version to be published AND meet at least one of the following two conditions: substantial contributions to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content. We encourage collaboration with individuals in the location where the research is con…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Conflict of Interest Statement
Authors will be asked to provide a conflict of interest statement during the submission process. For details on what to include in this section, see the ‘Conflict of Interest’ section in the Editorial Policies and Ethical Considerations section below. Submitting authors should ensure they liaise with all co-authors to confirm agreement with the final statement. The journal requires that all author…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data Sharing and Data Accessibility
Data sharing is mandated; data must be accessible to peer reviewers upon request. Model summary
This journal mandates data sharing. While data does not need to be provided with the initial submission, doing so is encouraged, particularly for meta-analyses. Authors must make the data accessible to peer reviewers upon request to facilitate the evaluation of the manuscript. You can learn more about data sharing in Wiley’s Data Sharing Policies resource.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics 6. EDITORIAL POLICIES AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Peer Review and Acceptance All submitted manuscripts will be processed through plagiarism detection software. In submitting your manuscript, you accept that it may be screened against previously published literature. Plagiarized manuscripts will be rejected immediately. The acceptance criteria for all papers are the quality and originality of the research and its significance to journal readership…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access
Submitting author must provide an ORCID iD at submission. Model summary
As part of the journal’s commitment to supporting authors at every step of the publishing process, the journal requires the submitting author (only) to provide an ORCID iD when submitting a manuscript.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review 5. PEER REVIEW PROCESS
Initial Screening All new submissions undergo an initial screening. Manuscripts deemed outside the journal's scope or lacking sufficient priority for publication are rejected promptly. Manuscripts meeting the initial criteria are assigned to a Subject Editor for further evaluation. Peer Review The Subject Editor further assesses the manuscript's originality, scientific significance, conciseness, p…
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
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd
- Country or region
- ENGLAND
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Bimonthly
- Founded
- 1995
- ISSN
- 1354-1013
- Electronic ISSN
- 1365-2486
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 32, Issue 9 (September 2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Global Change Biology
What CAS zone is Global Change Biology in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Global Change Biology is in Zone 1 of Environmental Science & Ecology, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Biodiversity Conservation / Ecology / Environmental Sciences; 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 Global Change Biology?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 12.54; CiteScore 21.1, h-index 407.
How long does peer review take at Global Change Biology?
Based on the dates recorded on 131 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 124 days (interquartile range 95–188 days); authors report an average review time of about 3.3 months; the community-reported acceptance is “about 37.5%”; the journal's website gives an acceptance rate of 13% (2025). 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.
Where are the editorial board members of Global Change Biology based?
Of the 173 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 66 (about 38%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Mainland China (66), United States (22) and Australia (15). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Global Change Biology?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Global Change Biology is indexed in SCIE and Scopus. The journal's website also lists MEDLINE, PubMed, CAS, CAB Abstracts and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Global Change Biology open access, and what is the APC?
Global Change Biology is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 4,550.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; 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 2026-08-25). Last updated: .