The new journal Sustainability Science seeks to understand the interactions within and between global, social, and human systems, the complex mechanisms that lead to degradation of these systems, and concomitant risks to human well-being and security. Authors are encouraged to be problem-oriented, proposing visions and methods for protecting and/or restoring these systems and linkages.

The journal provides a platform for building a new academic discipline, sustainability science, which can point the way to a sustainable global society. The novelty of sustainability science lies in its approach to many challenges that existing disciplines have not addressed. These challenges include, but are not limited to, endeavors to simultaneously understand phenomena and solve problems, uncertainty and application of the precautionary principle, the coevolution of knowledge and recognition of problems, and trade-offs between global and local problem prevention and solving.

The journal will promote science-based predictions and impact assessments of global change, and seek ways to ensure that such predictions and assessments can be understood and accepted by society and thus be used to strengthen the social system. For this purpose, clear benchmarks and indicators should be identified for the sustainable restoration of global, social, and human systems and their interaction. Sustainability Science aims to address such issues by creating a transdisciplinary academic structure and discovery process that fuses the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

The journal consequently welcomes articles and reports on any of the various systems that must be sustainably maintained in a comprehensive manner to ensure the achievement of global sustainability Such systems include: global systems comprising natural resources, energy, and ecosystems that support human life; social systems comprising national economies, governments, industries, and technological structures; and human systems comprising individual lifestyles, health, security, safety, and human values. As a transdisciplinary journal, Sustainability Science particularly encourages the submission of articles and reports discussing the linkages and interactions among these systems.

Ultimately, the journal sees as its goal the use of such research, in collaboration between industry, governments, and the public, to build a recycling-oriented society, improve food and water security, tackle population problems, mitigate global warming, and transform the socioeconomic structure of contemporary society into one that is more sustainable. With this in mind, we seek submissions that articulate future visions and policy recommendations for sustainability achieved through collaboration between industry, governments, and society at large.

Sustainability science should also be incorporated in educational programs that equip the younger generation, especially, with leadership skills, management capabilities and the broad knowledge needed to prevent and solve problems that hinder progress toward global sustainability. With this goal in mind, the journal seeks to play the important role of providing a multidisciplinary forum for communication among researchers, policy makers, practitioners, educators, and the younger generation.