New Horizons: The Future of Sustainable Islands

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable, sustainability, sustainable development—these are terms that have become overused. It should be noted, however, that sustainable islands remain an issue. At the very least, the concept of a sustainable island embodies and integrates numerous topics including physical, technological, economic, and social aspects of island life.   

Therefore, what is a sustainable island? Are there any aspects of sustainability that are unique to islands or island states (regions)? Meanwhile, we have noticed a significant difference between islands. Their differences contribute to the distinct barriers that islands face, which require a new approach to ensure sustainable development. Understanding this is the first step toward delivering a sustainable development pathway that takes advantage of island opportunities and overcomes their challenges to the fullest extent possible. All disciplines related to the topic are required, as well as experience from all islands. 

This Special Issue will contain selected papers from workshops/forums held since January 2022 on islands and sustainability. Additionally, we are looking forward to receiving contributions from island scholars around the world. In this Special Issue, original research articles, reviews, and case reports are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Theoretical progress of islands and sustainability.
• Interaction between sustainable islands and the realization of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
• Possible contribution of island laboratories (policies, economics, and the like).
• International law and islands.
• Integration and development of islanders (aborigines and outsiders) and island communities.
• Resilience and vulnerability indicators and assessment criteria.
• Development, security, and uncertainty for islands and adjacent seas.
• Population and islands’ carrying capacities in harmony with nature.
• Globalization and sustainability on islands.
• Island sustainability and climate change.
• Island sustainability and blue economy.
• International (regional) organizations and island states.
• Sea-level rise and maritime delimitation.
• Island sustainability and structural problems (poverty, income and sexual inequality, effective governance).
• Island sustainability and strategies (National, regional, international level).
• Island sustainability and disaster risk management.
• Migrations, relocation, and planning for island and coastal zones.
• Environment, resources, and sustainable utilization for island and coastal zones.
• Island and coastal conservation.
• Green island and low-carbon development.
• Island and the Anthropocene.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Lei Yu
Prof. Dr. Aifeng Tao
Prof. Dr. Ran Guo
Dr. John Telesford
Dr. Yuncheng Deng
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.

• island governance
• island laboratories
• development, security, and uncertainty
• resilience and vulnerability
• climate change
• globalization
• law and development
• environment, resources, and sustainable utilization
• blue economy and strategic plan
• island and the Anthropocene