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Cross-Disciplinary By Mandate, Not Just By Topic Breadth

Cross-Disciplinary By Mandate, Not Just By Topic Breadth

Many sustainability journals accept research from a single discipline and label it broadly. Nature Sustainability specifically requires submitted research to span natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, and policy — a cross-disciplinary editorial bar built into the journal's scope, not just a wide topic list.

A specifically enforced cross-disciplinary editorial standard

The journal's editorial bar requires sustainability research to genuinely span natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, and policy, rather than fitting entirely within one domain — a concrete submission requirement rather than a loosely defined "interdisciplinary" label.

A documented, high journal impact factor

The journal's 2025 Journal Impact Factor is approximately 32.1, among the highest in sustainability and environmental science — a specific, measurable citation metric rather than a vague claim of "high impact."

Full-time professional editorial oversight

All editorial decisions are made by a team of full-time professional editors — a concrete staffing detail distinguishing the journal's review process from one relying solely on part-time academic editors.

A dedicated 1-year, 12-issue subscription structure

The individual subscription provides a full year of access across 12 issues with immediate online access — a specific, documented subscription term rather than an ambiguous "ongoing access" arrangement.

Both subscription and open-access publishing routes

Authors can choose between traditional subscription-based publishing or immediate gold Open Access through an article-processing charge — genuine publishing flexibility rather than a single mandatory route, accommodating different funder and institutional requirements.

Coverage spanning a documented range of sustainability subtopics

The journal explicitly covers named subtopics including agriculture and food security, biodiversity conservation, circular economy, energy, and water-energy-food nexus issues — a specific, itemized topic scope rather than a generic "environmental" label.

At a Glance

Who It Suits

This subscription suits researchers, policymakers, and professionals who want access to peer-reviewed, cross-disciplinary sustainability research spanning natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, and policy in one publication. Its monthly cadence and broad topic coverage also make it a practical choice for those tracking developments across multiple sustainability subfields rather than subscribing to several narrower journals. Subscribe to Nature Sustainability — **

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