Discover Sustainability marks five years of interdisciplinary growth

Discover Sustainability has received more than 16,000 submissions and published 3,657 papers since the open-access journal began operating in 2020, marking five years of substantial growth in interdisciplinary sustainability research. Editor Walter Leal Filho reported that submissions rose from 67 in the journal’s founding year to 587 in 2023, 2,594 in 2024 and 6,833 in 2025. The journal had received another 5,573 manuscripts by 2026. These figures document the scale of the journal’s publishing activity, not the results of a single scientific study.

The journal was established to provide a platform for open research linking the natural sciences, social sciences and policy. Its scope extends across climate resilience, renewable energy, social equity, economic transformation, environmental conservation and other aspects of sustainable development. Its stated editorial philosophy prioritizes relevance, innovation and interdisciplinary impact rather than specialization alone, providing a home for researchers working across the boundaries of environmental conservation, human well-being and sustainable development.

Leal Filho identified three papers by their accumulated citation counts. The most cited was “Effects of COVID-19 on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” with 255 citations. The paper addresses how the pandemic affected progress toward the 2030 Agenda, including cases in which progress was reversed. It was described as a reminder that sustainability research is closely connected to global health and systemic resilience.

The second most cited paper, “Can public awareness, knowledge and engagement improve climate change adaptation policies?”, had received 242 citations. It focuses on the human dimensions of climate action, including the role of public understanding and involvement in climate-adaptation policy. The third, “Fueling the Future: biomass applications for green and sustainable energy,” had accumulated 137 citations and examines biomass applications in efforts to decarbonize energy systems. These citation totals show reported attention within the research literature, but the anniversary editorial did not provide the methods or effect estimates needed to evaluate the strength of the papers’ findings.

Beyond individual articles, Discover Sustainability has released 186 topical collections, with another 142 under development. These collections focus research discussion on themes such as circular economies, nature-based solutions, climate justice and digital sustainability. According to the editorial, they have supported focused discussion and the sharing of experiences across fields and professions, helping researchers, practitioners and other participants engage with emerging sustainability topics.

The anniversary account credits the journal’s section editors, editorial-board members, reviewers, Springer editorial team and contributing authors for sustaining the publication’s development. These contributors were described as maintaining the transparency and integrity of submitted papers, managing the challenges of expanding the journal while preserving quality standards, and supporting authors in communicating their research.

Leal Filho said the journal’s mission remains unchanged: to publish high-quality, impactful research on sustainable-development issues. The stated plans include continuing to develop new ideas, widen the journal’s reach, promote interdisciplinary work and serve both academic researchers and policymakers and practitioners. The journal’s topical scope and publishing record demonstrate broad activity in sustainability research, but the submission and publication totals do not by themselves establish that the platform has accelerated sustainable development.

As Discover Sustainability enters its sixth year, its first five have been characterized by a marked expansion in manuscript volume, thousands of published papers and hundreds of curated research collections. The milestone also highlights the breadth of the field assembled by the journal, from global-health disruptions and the Sustainable Development Goals to public participation in climate policy, biomass energy, conservation and digital sustainability. The editorial presents the anniversary as a point for continued discovery, conversation and action rather than as evidence that all the journal’s long-term objectives have already been achieved.

Subject of Research: Five years of interdisciplinary sustainability research and publication activity

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

Article References: Leal Filho, W. (2026). Discover sustainability: five years pioneering research with interdisciplinary aspects that will lead to a sustainable future. Discover Sustainability, 7(1), Article 1547. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-026-04640-5

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s43621-026-04640-5

Keywords: sustainability research, interdisciplinary science, open access, research publishing, climate resilience, renewable energy, social equity, climate adaptation, biomass energy, Sustainable Development Goals, Discover, sustainability