Publication Ethics

1. Introduction:

The Journal of Climate and Community Development (JOCCD) is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in scholarly research and publication. We adhere to internationally recognized guidelines, including those of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). These guidelines are intended to ensure the integrity and quality of published research, protect the rights of authors and reviewers, and promote responsible research practices within the field of climate and community development.

2. Author Responsibilities:

  • Originality and Authorship: All submitted manuscripts must be original and not published elsewhere, except in abstract form or as part of a thesis or dissertation. Authorship credit should be based on substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, analysis, and interpretation of the research. Ghostwriting and guest authorship are strictly prohibited. All authors must disclose their funding sources and any potential conflicts of interest.
  • Data and Research Conduct: Authors must adhere to ethical research principles concerning human and animal subjects. Data management should be rigorous and transparent, and all necessary permissions and ethical approvals must be obtained.
  • Submission Process: Manuscripts must be submitted online through the JOCCD submission portal and formatted according to the journal's guidelines. Authors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of their submissions.
  • Post-Publication Responsibilities: Authors must promptly report any errors or inaccuracies in their published work and cooperate with the journal in correcting or retracting articles as necessary.

3. Reviewer Responsibilities:

  • Confidentiality and Fairness: All reviewers must treat submitted manuscripts with confidentiality and provide constructive feedback to authors in a timely manner. Reviews should be unbiased and based solely on the scientific merit of the work.
  • Expertise and Timeliness: Reviewers should only agree to review manuscripts within their area of expertise and promptly inform the editor of any potential conflicts of interest. Deadlines for providing reviews should be met.
  • Declaration of Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could influence their judgement, such as personal, professional, or financial ties to the authors, their institutions, or the research topic.

4. Editor Responsibilities:

  • Editorial Decision-Making: The editorial team will select qualified reviewers based on their expertise and potential conflicts of interest. All editorial decisions will be made objectively and solely based on the quality and significance of the research.
  • Manuscript Handling and Communication: Submitted manuscripts will be handled fairly and efficiently throughout the review process. Editors will maintain clear communication with authors, providing timely feedback and updates on the status of their submissions.
  • Retraction and Correction Policies: The JOCCD follows the COPE guidelines on retraction and correction. Articles may be retracted due to ethical misconduct, substantial errors, or plagiarism. Minor errors will be corrected through published errata.

5. Plagiarism and Misconduct:

Plagiarism and other forms of research misconduct are strictly prohibited. The JOCCD takes allegations of misconduct seriously and will investigate them thoroughly. Authors found guilty of misconduct may face sanctions, including publication bans and retraction of their work.

6. Appeals:

Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions. Appeals should be submitted in writing to the editor-in-chief, explaining the basis for the appeal and providing any supporting evidence.

7. Data Sharing and Availability:

The JOCCD encourages authors to make their data underlying published research publicly available whenever possible. This promotes transparency, reproducibility, and the advancement of knowledge within the field.

8. Open Access Policy:

The JOCCD is currently a subscription-based journal. However, we are committed to exploring open access options in the future to ensure wider accessibility of published research.

9. Amendments:

These publication ethics guidelines may be amended periodically to reflect evolving ethical standards and best practices. Authors are responsible for staying up-to-date with the latest version of the guidelines.