Complaints and Appeals Procedure

Introduction
The Polish Journal of Environmental Studies (PJOES) and Polish Journal of Environmental Studies – Politics, Economy and Industry (PJOESPEAI) are committed to maintaining the highest standards of editorial integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing. We recognize that authors, reviewers, and readers may occasionally wish to raise concerns or complaints regarding the editorial process or published content. This procedure outlines how such complaints are handled in a fair, confidential, and timely manner.
Scope of Complaints
We consider complaints related to, but not limited to:
- Editorial decisions (including rejection or requests for revision)
- Peer review process (quality, timeliness, or conduct of reviewers)
- Allegations of research or publication misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate submission)
- Conflicts of interest
- Delays in manuscript handling or communication issues
- Ethical concerns related to published articles
- Authorship disputes
Submission of Complaints
Complaints should be submitted in writing and include sufficient detail to allow proper investigation.
Please send complaints to:

Editorial Office
Polish Journal of Environmental Studies / PJOESPEAI
Email: office@pjoes.com

The complaint should include:
- Manuscript ID (if applicable)
- Title of the manuscript or article
- Detailed description of the concern
- Supporting documentation (if available)
Handling of Complaints
All complaints are handled according to the following principles:
- Confidentiality: All information is treated as confidential.
- Impartiality: Complaints are assessed objectively and fairly.
- Transparency: Clear communication is maintained throughout the process.
The procedure includes:
1. Acknowledgement of receipt of the complaint.
2. Initial assessment by the Editorial Office.
3. Investigation, which may involve the Editor-in-Chief, editorial board members, and, if necessary, external experts.
4. Decision and response communicated to the complainant.
Appeals
Authors may appeal editorial decisions if they believe that:
- The decision was based on a misunderstanding of the manuscript, or
- There were procedural or reviewer-related issues that affected fairness.
Appeals must:
- Be submitted in writing
- Provide a clear justification
- Address reviewer and editorial comments in detail
The Editor-in-Chief will review the appeal, and, where appropriate, may seek additional independent expert opinions. Decisions on appeals are final.
Ethical Standards and Guidelines
Our journals follow internationally recognized standards, including:
- COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines
- Best practices in scholarly publishing
- Principles of research integrity and transparency
Where applicable, COPE procedures are followed in handling complex ethical cases.
Timeframe
We aim to:
- Acknowledge complaints within 5 working days
- Provide an initial response within 2–4 weeks, depending on the complexity of the case
More complex cases may require additional time; in such instances, the complainant will be informed.
Contact
For all complaints and appeals, please contact:
Editorial Office
Polish Journal of Environmental Studies (PJOES)
Polish Journal of Environmental Studies – Politics, Economy and Industry (PJOESPEAI)
Email: office@pjoes.com

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