Declaration of ethics

The Iberoamerican Environment & Sustainability Journal (RIAS) subscribes to the Code of Conduct for publishers, of the Publications Ethics Committee (COPE), meaning that all the articles it publishes are governed by ethics and quality standards internationally established for each of the stages of the editorial process and the actors involved in them, the latter: authors, editors, reviewers, proofreaders, translators and general management. That is why any of the manifestations of plagiarism, favoritism, or other unethical behavior that may be detected during the editorial management and that may undermine the seriousness and credibility of the magazine are inadmissible.

Similarly, the RIAS has defined the functions to be performed by the members of its Editorial Team, which are explained below:

1. Responsibilities of the editors

• Selection of publication: Responds for the selection of the manuscripts that will be published in the journal, always complying with the ethical standards and legal guidelines previously established by it, especially those related to the prevention of defamation, infringement of rights of author and plagiarism. It has the authority to discuss decisions related to article selection with the Editorial Team.
• Non-discrimination clause: The editor will review and make decisions on manuscripts, regardless of skin color, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, nationality or the political ideology of the authors.
• Confidentiality agreement: Both the editor and any member of the writing team are prohibited from disclosing information about the manuscript sent to persons other than the corresponding author, such as reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial or editorial advisers.
• Transparency and interests: Both the publisher and any member of the editing team are prohibited from using the manuscripts in their own research, unless they have obtained the express written consent of the author. Likewise, they must abstain from those texts that represent a conflict of interest as a result of any possible connection, whether competitive or mutual, with their authors, institutions, companies, etc.

2. Responsibilities of the reviewers

• Confidentiality: All the manuscripts submitted for review are considered confidential documents, for this reason they will not be discussed or presented to anyone outside the editorial process, according to the chain of command.
• Punctuality: As time and knowledge are key factors for the timely publication of the articles submitted for evaluation, the reviewers who, at the time of the delivery of the manuscripts, cannot carry out their revision with quality, transparency and speed , must reject such responsibility before the editor, explaining the reasons why they cannot be involved in that process.
• Requirements for objectivity: Criticism of texts submitted for review must be carried out in a neutral manner, focusing opinions on the basis of reasonable arguments.
• Entry into editorial evaluation: Evaluations must be carried out with established scientific rigor and must provide the information required by the editor for decision-making. By raising the quality of manuscripts and streamlining the editorial process for those cases that require it.
• The recognition of sources: This function obliges the reviewers to take into account, due to their cultural background and mastery of the topics addressed in the manuscript, the recognition of that material present in the text and not cited by the author; and if there is any considerable similarity between the referenced articles and the manuscript under consideration.
• Transparency and interests: Private information and ideas collected through peer review should remain classified and not be used for the benefit of the reviewer, who should refrain from manuscripts that represent a conflict of interest as a result of any possible connection, since be competitive or mutual, with its authors, institutions, companies, etc.

3. Responsibilities of the author

• Principles of the research: The authors are responsible for presenting the original research, whatever their area of ​​knowledge, with a truthful description of the methodology and methods used, and an objective discussion of the importance of the results of the research. The written report must properly use the grammar of the language in which the manuscript is made, as well as respect the basic principles of scientific writing, while continuing to include the details and references necessary for others to repeat the research. Deliberately false or incorrect statements that violate the integrity and ethics of the magazine will not be admissible.
• Redundant, numerous or simultaneous publication: Those authors whose manuscripts are similar to other own materials that are subject to evaluation in more than one journal or primary publication, and that present identical results to those presented to the RIAS will be vetoed. Said behavior is not compatible with the integrity and ethics of the journal, for which the authors undertake to guarantee that the submitted manuscript is an original work and that it does not infringe the rights of third parties.
• Authenticity and plagiarism: As it has been reaffirmed in a transversal way, the articles sent to the RIAS must be totally original, which means that all works that have served as antecedents or theoretical framework for them have been duly referenced in the text. Plagiarism will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
• Authorship of the article: Authorship belongs to the individuals who actively participated in the design, implementation, evaluation, or understanding of the article; Hence, all those who contributed to its concretion in one way or another, must be recognized by the author as co-authors. Other people who contributed to the research may be listed as contributors. The main author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors have reviewed the final version of the document and, consequently, have given their approval for sending it to the journal. When the authorship of an article is shared, it must be formally declared that:
  • All the authors have contributed intellectually in its elaboration.
  • They agree with the content of it.
  • The work has not been previously published in another magazine or format.
• Source recognition: As explained, the authors must include the antecedents that influenced the content of their work. Private investigation, such as communication or dialogue with third parties, is prohibited, except in cases where there is written evidence of the permission of those individuals for such purposes; as also happens when it is a question of information collected through confidential methods such as manuscript reviews or grant applications.
• Transparency and interests: All authors must disclose in the article any financial or other interest conflicts that could interfere with the results and interpretations of their research. All financing for the project must be disclosed.
• Fundamental errors in published research: When an author realizes a fundamental error or inaccuracy in his own published research, he is required to immediately notify the director or editor of the journal, by virtue of retrieving or correcting his article.

4. Quality and integrity of publication

• The Editorial Team of the Iberoamerican Environment & Sustainability Journal (RIAS), in order to enhance its prestige and build its image as a scientific publication, strives to guarantee the highest quality of the articles it selects for its publications, subjecting them to a rigorous process evaluation (see Author's guidelines); protecting the rights on their content and, consequently, respecting their integrity.
• In the same way, the RIAS requires the authors that the literature and research consulted during the preparation of their articles be within the most current and relevant sources in that area of ​​knowledge, also giving due consideration to all universities, institutions and higher education organizations on the subject.

5. Method of handling unethical conduct

• Whenever negative behaviors and unethical actions are identified the same by the authors as by any member of the Editorial Team, they will be reported to the editor for further analysis and measures in this regard.
• Misconduct and unethical actions for authors include, in addition to the examples described above, plagiarism or falsification of research.
• The person who identifies an unethical practice or conduct must offer sufficient evidence to justify the initiation of a legal investigation. All complaints should be seriously considered and treated in a similar way, until a corresponding result or agreement is reached.

6. Conflict of Interest

• All articles that are the result of an investigation with external financing must have permission to publish by the institution to which the publication is assigned.
• Any commercial association that may cause a conflict of interest in relation to the article sent must be stated by the authors.
• Statement based on COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors and Elsevier recommendations.

See: http://publicationethics.org/resources/guidelines