Ecological Transition in Economics
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1207
Special Issue Editors
Interests: ecological economics; circular economy and resource management; artificial intelligence and machine learning for sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: energy economics; circular economics; ecological economics and artificial intelligence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue on “Ecological Transition in Economics” seeks to explore how economics can be reimagined to better integrate ecological principles and address pressing sustainability challenges. The focus is on innovative theoretical and empirical contributions that reframe traditional economic models and policies to incorporate environmental values, resource constraints, and the well-being of present and future generations. Reflecting the scope of Sustainability, this Special Issue aims to include research that bridges multiple disciplines—ranging from environmental science and policy studies to behavioral economics—to foster new insights into the socio-economic, scientific, and integrated dimensions of sustainable development.
The purpose of this Special Issue is threefold. First, it aims to advance our understanding of how sustainability can be defined, quantified, and operationalized in economic frameworks through multidimensional indicators, integrated modeling, and real-world case studies. Second, it highlights policy instruments, legal frameworks, and governance mechanisms necessary to steer markets and societies toward a low-carbon, resource-efficient, and socially just future. Third, it illustrates practical tools and applications that can measure and monitor sustainability performance, ranging from life cycle assessments and carbon accounting to participatory decision-making processes. By gathering cutting-edge research in these areas, the Special Issue will provide actionable insights for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners committed to an inclusive and resilient economic transition. Ultimately, these contributions will enrich the ongoing global dialogue on how economics can become a transformative force for ecological well-being, thereby supporting Sustainability’s broader mission of advancing equitable and science-based sustainable development.
Dr. Chun-Chih Chen
Prof. Dr. Hsiao-Tien Pao
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- ecological economics
- sustainability transition
- green policies
- resource management
- circular economy
- environmental governance
- socio-economic development
- sustainable development goals (SDGs)
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