Environmental Policy as a Tool for Sustainable Development: 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

Relying on a combination of regulatory, market, and voluntary instruments, environmental policy is creating a favorable context in which it is possible to address pressing issues of sustainable development such as carbon emissions reduction, energy saving, energy efficiency, resource decoupling and reuse, or the valuation of ecosystems services. Since environmental policy can play a crucial role as a tool for sustainable development, it is necessary for policymakers to consider the latest research findings on ways to achieve sustainable development and to focus on science-based policymaking.

Sustainable development is a concept that seeks to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Environmental policy serves as a means to achieve this by addressing the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability by establishing a framework for resource management, economic growth, climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, pollution control, waste management, environmental justice, international cooperation, education and awareness, long-term planning, stakeholder engagement, and monitoring and evaluation.

The aim of this Special Issue is to collate original research papers, reviews, and perspectives that address the application of environmental policies as tools for sustainable development. We welcome papers that utilize both traditional and innovative approaches including surveys, databases, machine learning, and modeling applications. Additionally, we invite submissions addressing the decision-making processes involved in the design of policy measures, the frameworks under policy design, the evaluation of current environmental policies, and the underlying connections between policy measures, climate change mitigation, and sustainability.

The following are the potential topics of interest:

• Energy Transition:
  1. The promotion of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower;
  2. Incentives for energy-efficient technologies and practices;
• The phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies.
• Climate Action:
  1. Commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with international agreements (e.g., the Paris Agreement);
  2. The implementation of carbon pricing mechanisms, such as carbon taxes or cap-and-trade systems;
• Investment in climate adaptation and resilience measures.
• Biodiversity Conservation:
  1. The establishment and management of protected areas and wildlife reserves;
  2. Habitat restoration and reforestation programs;
• Regulations to prevent the illegal wildlife trade and protect endangered species.
• Sustainable Agriculture:
  1. The promotion of organic farming practices and sustainable land use;
  2. Support for small-scale farmers and access to markets;
• Reductions in chemical pesticide and fertilizer use.
• Circular Economy:
  1. Policies to promote recycling, waste reduction, and product reuse;
  2. Incentives for eco-design and sustainable manufacturing.
• Social Equity:
  1. The implementation of policies to reduce income inequality and promote social inclusion;
  2. Support for rural, vulnerable, and marginalized communities.
• Natural Resource Management:
  1. Sustainable forestry practices and responsible logging regulations;
  2. Soil conservation and land management policies.
• Green Technology Innovation:
  1. Support for the research and development of clean and sustainable technologies;
  2. Intellectual property rights and patent policies that promote green innovation.
• International Cooperation:
  1. Engagement in international partnerships and collaborations to address global sustainability challenges;
  2. Participation in United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiatives.
• Environmental Education and Public Awareness:
  1. Educational programs to raise awareness about sustainable practices.
• Long-Term Planning and Reporting:
  1. The development of long-term sustainability plans and goals;
  2. The regular reporting and assessment of progress toward sustainability targets.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Konstantinos S. Ioannou
Dr. Evangelia Karasmanaki
Prof. Dr. Georgios Tsantopoulos
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.

• environmental policy
• decision making
• climate change
• sustainability 
• environmental governance
• circular economy
• climate action
• policymaking
• technological transition
• environmental agreements
• strategic planning
• stakeholder engagement

• Environmental Policy as a Tool for Sustainable Development in Sustainability (22 articles)