How to submit

Before you start

Have these ready; it makes the form quick to complete:

• your manuscript as a Word file, prepared following the guide for authors;
• a cover letter explaining what is new in your work and why it fits the journal;
• the title, abstract and 4–6 keywords (you will paste them into the form);
• for every author: name, email, country, affiliation and, if available, ORCID iD;
• figures as separate high-resolution files, and any supplementary material;
• your answers to the declarations: originality, plagiarism, approval by all authors and use of generative AI.

Not sure which section or article type fits? See aims and scope and the article types.

Step by step

1. Sign in or create an account

   Use the account of the author who will handle all correspondence (the corresponding author). If you do not have one, create an author account — it takes a minute.

2. Open the submission form

   Go to sustainaterra.org/submit (or use "Submit your article" at the top of any page). A new manuscript number is created and your progress is saved as you go, so you can stop and continue later from "Incomplete submissions" in your dashboard.

3. Article information

   Choose the journal section and the article type, select a special issue if you are answering a call for papers, then enter the title, abstract, keywords and subject classification.

4. Authors

   Add every author in the order they should appear, with their email, country, ORCID iD and institution(s), and mark the corresponding author. Check spellings carefully: names are published exactly as entered here.

5. Upload your files

   Upload each file under its category. The manuscript and the cover letter are required; the form shows the requirements for each category.

   File	When	Formats
   Manuscript	Required	Word (.docx)
   Cover letter	Required	PDF or Word
   Figures	Optional, one file per figure	JPG, PNG, TIFF, EPS or PDF
   Graphical abstract	Optional	JPG, PNG, PDF or TIFF
   Consent forms	If applicable	PDF
   Supplementary material (for publication)	Optional	PDF, Word, Excel, CSV, ZIP or MP4
   Supplementary material (for reviewers only)	Optional	PDF, Word, Excel or ZIP
   Response to reviewers	Required for revised manuscripts	Word (.docx)

6. Declarations

   Confirm that the work is original and not under consideration elsewhere, that it is free of plagiarism, and that all co-authors approved the submission. Declare whether you used a generative AI tool and for what — remember that AI may be used only to improve grammar and language (see the AI policy).

7. Review and submit

   A summary shows everything you entered: article details, authors, files and declarations. Check it, go back to correct anything, then confirm the final submission.

After you submit

• You receive a confirmation email with your manuscript number (for example SUST-26-000123) and a submission receipt.
• The manuscript appears in your dashboard as Under consideration while the editorial office checks it.
• Follow every next step — editor assignment, peer review, decision, proofs — on Track your research.

Submitting a revised manuscript

When a revision is requested, open the manuscript from Submissions needing attention in your dashboard, upload the revised manuscript together with a point-by-point response to the editor and reviewers, update any changed information, and submit again. Your manuscript keeps the same number.

Start your submission