Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement

The Editors of the journal " Environmental Problems ", published by the Lviv Polytechnic National University, support the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) when selecting and accepting  papers.

The Editors of the journal set a list of ethical standards below. These standards should be considered by the persons (editors, authors and reviewers) involved in the publication of research results in the scientific fields covered in the journal. The fields are regulated by the Certificate on State Registration.

Duties of Editor

The editor has an important task of ensuring the quality and compliance of the journal's publications with its policies and standards. He or she is responsible for selecting materials for publication based on their relevance, scientific value, and relevance to the journal's subject matter.
The editor should also take into account ethical aspects such as copyright and avoidance of plagiarism. It is important that the editor maintains independence and objectivity in decision-making and adherence to the procedures established by the journal's editorial policy. Sometimes the editor may consult with other professionals, such as reviewers, to obtain additional expert opinion. These principles demonstrate the importance of the editor's ethical behaviour in the process of working with manuscripts.
The editor should evaluate materials only on the basis of their academic and scientific content, and should not discriminate on any grounds, including race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, ethnic origin, citizenship, or political philosophy of the authors. 
In addition, the editor and editorial staff must keep information about submitted manuscripts confidential and not disclose it to third parties without proper authorisation from the authors. Unpublished data contained in the manuscript should also remain confidential and not be used by the editor for his/her own research without proper consent from the author. Such principles are the basis for maintaining scientific integrity and trust in the academic environment.

Duties of Authors

Authors who submit their manuscripts to the journal "Environmental problems" should be aware that they are responsible for the novelty and validity of the results of their research. They are required to ensure that all persons who have made a substantial contribution are listed as co-authors.
Simultaneous submission of manuscripts to more than one journal is prohibited, and authors should refrain from submitting previously published material.
Authors must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest that may affect research results. They are also required to present an objective discussion of their results and describe in detail the methods and data used.
If errors or discrepancies are discovered after the publication of the article, the authors must inform the editorial office about it in order to take appropriate measures. Plagiarism, fabrication of data and images are not allowed and are considered serious violations of ethical standards.
The authors of the articles are responsible for observing these principles, and the editorial staff of the journal is obliged to ensure objectivity and fairness in the process of reviewing and publishing materials.

Duties of Reviews

Ensuring the objectivity of manuscript evaluation involves the use of ‘blind’ review, when reviewers are not disclosed information about the authors.
If a reviewer doubts his or her qualifications regarding the level of research in a manuscript, he or she should refuse to review it.
Manuscripts submitted for review should be treated as confidential documents and cannot be disclosed or discussed without the permission of the editor.
Reviewers should conduct reviews objectively, refraining from personal criticism of the author, and clearly express their opinions, supporting them with arguments.
Reviewers should adequately explain and justify their conclusions so that the editor and authors can understand the basis of their comments.
Any statement about the similarity of the manuscript with other publications should be accompanied by appropriate references.
Reviewers should provide their feedback in a timely manner and not use or disclose unpublished information without the author's consent.