Five Years of Discover Sustainability: Advancing Research for a Sustainable Future

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Five Years of Discover Sustainability: Advancing Research for a Sustainable Future

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This post is part of the “Celebrating Five Years of the Discover Journals” series, highlighting Discover journals and the people who have played a key role in shaping their development. The series aims to spotlight the leadership, values, and vibrant communities behind the journals.


Starting with 67 submissions in 2020, we have made a stunning leap, with 6,833 papers submitted in 2025 and over 8,700 papers submitted so far in 2026. 

Since its launch, Discover Sustainability has reached several significant milestones during the past years:

  • 2020 – The inaugural issue was released
  • 2022 – Indexed by Scopus and ESCI
  • 2023 – Received the first Impact Factor of 2.2; Indexed by Ei Geobase
  • 2024 – Published its 500th paper
  • 2025 – Published its 1000th paper
  • 2026 - Achieved a Journal Impact Factor (2025) of 5.2 and Citescore of 3.3

As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of Discover Sustainability, we are delighted to share the Anniversary Editorial by our Editor-in-Chief Professor Walter Leal Filho:

Discover Sustainability: five years pioneering research with interdisciplinary aspects that will lead to a sustainable future

Many thanks to the members of the Editorial Board, Guest Editors and to the authors.

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What are SDG Topics?

An introduction to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Topics and their role in highlighting sustainable development research.

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Related Collections

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5th Anniversary of Discover Sustainability: Accelerating the Implementation of the UN SDGs

Adopted in 2015, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides a universal framework for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity for all by 2030. Yet, with the target year rapidly approaching, progress remains off track. The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and resource constraints have reversed gains in areas such as food security, health, and gender equality. Achieving the SDGs requires not only political will but also accelerated, interdisciplinary, and scalable solutions that integrate technology, policy innovation, finance, and community engagement.

This collection responds to that urgent need by showcasing cutting-edge research, case studies, and practical frameworks that drive measurable progress toward the SDGs. It seeks to bridge gaps between theory and implementation, highlighting successes, failures, and replicable lessons. Marking the 5th anniversary of Discover Sustainability, this collection celebrates the journal’s ongoing commitment to advancing impactful research and practical solutions for global sustainability challenges.

This collection aims to accelerate evidence-based progress toward the UN SDGs by bridging research, policy, and practice. Its specific objectives are:

  • to showcase innovative, scalable solutions that have demonstrated measurable SDG impacts;
  • to identify barriers to implementation and propose actionable pathways to overcome them;
  • to foster interdisciplinary collaboration across technology, social sciences, finance, and governance;
  • to highlight replicable case studies from diverse geographical and socio-economic contexts; and
  • to inform decision-makers of local, national, and global levels.

Ultimately, the collection seeks to transform the SDG framework from aspirational goals into tangible, time-bound achievements by 2030 and beyond.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 6, SDG 7, SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 10, SDG 11, SDG12, SDG 13, SDG 14, and SDG 15

Keywords: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Interdisciplinary Solutions, Policy Innovation, Scalable Impact, Climate Resilience, Renewable Energy Transition, Circular Economy, Data-driven Development, Social Equity and Inclusion, Global Partnerships

Publishing Model: Open Access

Deadline: Dec 31, 2026

Weather and Climate Extremes: A Special Reference to Multidisciplinary Research and Policy Developments

This Collection, titled "Weather and Climate Extremes: A Special Reference to Multidisciplinary Research and Policy Developments," focuses on the increasing global challenges posed by extreme weather events and climate phenomena. As these events intensify due to changing climate patterns, their impacts on ecosystems, infrastructure, human health, and socioeconomic systems become more pronounced, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and addressing these complexities.

The Collection aims to bring together research from diverse fields, including atmospheric sciences, hydrology, ecology, engineering, public health, and social sciences. It encourages innovative contributions that explore cutting-edge solutions to predict, manage, and mitigate the effects of climate extremes. Topics may include advanced modelling techniques, nature-based solutions, climate-resilient infrastructure, risk assessment frameworks, and strategies for equitable policy development. The emphasis is placed on integrating scientific understanding with actionable solutions that address vulnerability, resilience, and adaptation.

Moreover, this Collection seeks to foster cross-disciplinary collaborations to bridge the gap between scientific research and policy implementation. By highlighting case studies, theoretical advancements, and practical approaches, it aims to advance the dialogue on climate resilience and inform decision-making processes globally. This platform aspires to serve as a critical resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers striving to navigate the escalating challenges of a changing climate.

Given the increasing frequency and intensity of climate extremes, this topic holds critical importance. Such extremes profoundly affect ecosystems, infrastructure, and human livelihoods, demanding coordinated efforts across disciplines to analyse risks, develop mitigation strategies, and inform policy. This Collection seeks to bring together cutting-edge research and innovative approaches from diverse fields, bridging scientific understanding and actionable policy frameworks. The proposed focus areas include, but are not limited to:

• Advances in modelling and forecasting weather and climate extremes

• Impacts on ecosystems, agriculture, water resources, and public health

• Nature-based solutions and climate-resilient infrastructure

• Interdisciplinary frameworks for risk management and adaptation planning

• Policy advancements addressing vulnerability, resilience, and equity

This call aims to engage a broad community of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to enhance global discourse and support evidence-based decision-making by emphasising multidisciplinary contributions.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG

Keywords: Weather Extremes Modeling; Climate Change Impacts; Risk Assessment Frameworks; Nature-Based Solutions (NbS); Resilient Infrastructure Design; Equitable Policy Development; Interdisciplinary Climate Research; Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies; Socioeconomic Vulnerability Analysis; Extreme Event Forecasting

Publishing Model: Open Access

Deadline: Feb 28, 2027