Rankings, Environmental Science, Q1 Journals, Climate Change, Ecology, Impact Factor, SJR, Scopus

Top 10 Q1 Journals in Environmental Science 2026 | SJR

Top 10 Q1 Journals in Environmental Science 2026

Impact Factor, SJR, CiteScore & H-Index Compared | Scopus & WoS Indexed

Last Updated: April 17, 2026  |  By ResearchJournalRank Team  |  Data: JCR 2025, SCImago 2025, Scopus CiteScore 2024

 

Introduction

Environmental science is one of the fastest-growing and most urgently relevant research fields in 2026. With climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and sustainability transitions dominating global policy agendas, the demand for high-quality environmental research has never been higher and neither has competition for space in the world's top journals.

For researchers in environmental science, choosing the right journal is more complex than in many other disciplines. Environmental science is inherently multidisciplinary, spanning climate science, ecology, toxicology, environmental chemistry, environmental health, sustainability, and policy. Each sub-field has its own top journals, and what counts as a prestigious publication varies depending on your specific research area and target audience.

This comprehensive guide presents the top 10 Q1 journals in Environmental Science for 2026, ranked using a combination of Impact Factor (JCR 2025), SJR (SCImago 2025), CiteScore (Scopus 2024), and H-Index. Whether you are a PhD student looking for your first high-impact publication, an early-career researcher targeting a flagship journal, or a senior scientist tracking the leading venues in environmental science, this data-driven ranking will guide your submission strategy.

All journals can be explored and compared on Research Journal Rank, where you can filter 31,000+ journals by subject area, quartile, SJR, and open access status. Use our Journal Suggester at /suggest to find the best match for your environmental research, and compare journals side-by-side at /compare.

 

Top 10 Q1 Environmental Science Journals 2026 Complete Ranking

#	Journal Name	Sub-Field	Publisher	IF	CiteScore	SJR	H-Index	Q	ISSN
1	Nature Climate Change	Climate Science	Nature Portfolio	30.7	58.4	14.432	372	Q1	1758-678X
2	Global Change Biology	Ecology & Climate	Wiley	11.8	24.6	6.123	298	Q1	1354-1013
3	Environmental Science & Technology	Environmental Chemistry	ACS Publications	11.4	19.8	3.876	534	Q1	0013-936X
4	One Earth	Sustainability & Climate	Cell Press / Elsevier	15.3	27.1	7.654	124	Q1	2590-3322
5	Environmental Health Perspectives	Environmental Health	NIEHS / NIH	10.1	18.4	3.456	410	Q1	0091-6765
6	Journal of Hazardous Materials	Environmental Contamination	Elsevier	13.6	21.9	2.987	316	Q1	0304-3894
7	Environment International	Environmental & Health Science	Elsevier	10.3	19.2	3.214	248	Q1	0160-4120
8	Resources, Conservation and Recycling	Waste & Circular Economy	Elsevier	13.2	22.4	3.012	228	Q1	0921-3449
9	Environmental Research Letters	Environmental Policy & Science	IOP Publishing	6.7	13.1	2.234	196	Q1	1748-9326
10	Science of the Total Environment	Multidisciplinary Environment	Elsevier	9.8	17.6	1.987	388	Q1	0048-9697

 

Source: JCR 2025 (Clarivate), SCImago Journal Rank 2025, Scopus CiteScore 2024. Data verified April 2026. IF = Impact Factor. SJR = SCImago Journal Rank.

 

Detailed Review of the Top 5 Environmental Science Journals

1. Nature Climate Change The Climate Science Crown

IF: 30.7  |  SJR: 14.432  |  Publisher: Nature Portfolio

Nature Climate Change is the undisputed flagship journal for climate science research worldwide. With an SJR of 14.432 the highest of any environmental science journal and an Impact Factor of 30.7, it publishes research that directly shapes international climate policy, IPCC assessments, and global environmental governance. Every paper published in Nature Climate Change undergoes rigorous editorial screening and peer review, with an acceptance rate estimated at 8–10%. The journal covers climate attribution, climate modelling, impacts and adaptation, climate economics, and the human dimensions of climate change. For climate scientists, a Nature Climate Change paper is the career-defining publication equivalent to what AMR is for management researchers.

 

2. Global Change Biology Ecology Meets Climate

IF: 11.8  |  SJR: 6.123  |  Publisher: Wiley

Global Change Biology bridges ecology and climate science, publishing research on how biological systems — species, ecosystems, biodiversity — respond to global change drivers including climate change, land use, invasive species, and pollution. With an H-Index of 298 and a CiteScore of 24.6, it has one of the most sustained citation records in ecology. GCB is particularly strong for studies on species range shifts, phenological changes, carbon cycling, and terrestrial ecosystem modelling. For ecologists working on climate-biology interactions, GCB is the top target journal.

 

3. Environmental Science & Technology The Chemistry Standard

IF: 11.4  |  SJR: 3.876  |  Publisher: ACS Publications

Published by the American Chemical Society, Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) is the most-cited journal in environmental chemistry and engineering. With an H-Index of 534 the highest on this list ES&T has published foundational research in water treatment, atmospheric chemistry, pesticide contamination, microplastics, and remediation technology for over six decades. For environmental chemists, engineers, and toxicologists, ES&T is the primary target journal. Its ACS backing gives it exceptional discoverability in both Scopus and Web of Science.

 

4. One Earth The Rising Star

IF: 15.3  |  SJR: 7.654  |  Publisher: Cell Press / Elsevier

One Earth, launched by Cell Press in 2019, is the newest journal on this list and the fastest-rising. With an IF of 15.3 — extraordinary for a journal less than a decade old — it focuses on the intersection of sustainability science, climate solutions, clean energy, and global development goals. One Earth's Cell Press editorial standards (equivalent to Cell and Lancet quality) and its explicit focus on solutions-oriented research make it the go-to journal for researchers working on energy transitions, sustainable development goals (SDGs), and climate mitigation strategies. One Earth is indexed in both Scopus and Web of Science.

 

5. Environmental Health Perspectives Open Access Leader

IF: 10.1  |  SJR: 3.456  |  Publisher: NIEHS / NIH

Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) is published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) as part of the US National Institutes of Health. It is fully open access - no APC for authors - and focuses on the interface of environmental exposures and human health. EHP publishes epidemiological studies, exposure assessment research, mechanistic toxicology, and environmental health policy. Its NIH backing and open access model make it one of the most widely read environmental journals globally. For public health researchers, toxicologists, and environmental epidemiologists, EHP is a flagship target.

 

6–10: Hazardous Materials, Environment International, Recycling, Research Letters, Total Environment

Journal of Hazardous Materials (IF: 13.6, H-Index: 316):  The leading journal for research on hazardous and toxic substances, environmental contamination, heavy metals, microplastics, and remediation. One of the most active sub-fields in environmental science in 2026, driven by growing concern over PFAS ('forever chemicals'), microplastics, and industrial contamination. High publication volume with strong citation metrics.

 

Environment International (IF: 10.3, H-Index: 248):  Elsevier's broad-scope journal covering the full range of environmental and health science topics. Particularly strong for environmental epidemiology, global environmental health policy, and multi-country exposure studies. One of the most widely cited journals for researchers working at the environment-health boundary.

 

Resources, Conservation and Recycling (IF: 13.2, H-Index: 228):  The top journal for circular economy, waste management, sustainable materials, and resource efficiency research. IF has grown dramatically in recent years as sustainability and circular economy research has surged. Essential for researchers in waste management, industrial ecology, and sustainable consumption.

 

Environmental Research Letters (IF: 6.7, H-Index: 196):  Published by IOP Publishing, ERL is fully open access with no APC for authors from many institutions. It has a faster review process than most Q1 environmental journals (typically 6-10 weeks) and publishes high-quality research across all environmental science sub-fields. Particularly strong for policy-relevant research and climate science.

 

Science of the Total Environment (IF: 9.8, H-Index: 388):  Elsevier's highest-volume Q1 environmental journal, covering the broadest range of environmental topics of any journal on this list. Its high H-Index of 388 reflects decades of accumulated citation impact. For PhD students and early-career researchers in environmental science, STOTEN is one of the most accessible Q1 targets it has a broad scope, accepts diverse methodologies, and publishes a large number of papers annually.

 

Top Q1 Environmental Science Journal by Sub-Category

Sub-Category	Top Q1 Journal	IF	SJR	Best For
Climate Science & Policy	Nature Climate Change	30.7	14.432	Climate change research, policy studies
Environmental Chemistry	Environmental Science & Technology	11.4	3.876	Pollution, water/soil contamination, toxicology
Ecology & Biodiversity	Global Change Biology	11.8	6.123	Ecosystem response to climate, species studies
Environmental Health	Environmental Health Perspectives	10.1	3.456	Exposure science, epidemiology, public health
Hazardous Materials & Toxicology	Journal of Hazardous Materials	13.6	2.987	Toxic substances, waste, contamination
Sustainability & Circular Economy	Resources, Conservation & Recycling	13.2	3.012	Waste management, recycling, sustainable systems
Interdisciplinary Environment	Science of the Total Environment	9.8	1.987	Broad environmental topics, multidisciplinary
Environmental Policy & Governance	Environmental Research Letters	6.7	2.234	Policy-focused, open access, fast review
Renewable Energy & Sustainability	One Earth	15.3	7.654	Sustainability transitions, clean energy, SDGs

 

Explore all Q1 environmental science journals by sub-category on Research Journal Rank Use the Scopus Finder at /scopus-finder to filter by sub-field, and the Journal Suggester at /suggest for personalised recommendations based on your abstract.

 

Which Journal Should YOU Target? Quick-Select Guide

Your Research Type	Best Journal to Target	Why
Climate modelling / attribution study	Nature Climate Change	World's highest-SJR climate journal; flagship for climate science breakthroughs
Ecological response to climate change	Global Change Biology	Top ecology-climate interface journal; strong H-Index and long citation record
Water/soil pollution, chemical contaminants	Environmental Science & Technology	Most-cited environmental chemistry journal; ACS prestige
Environmental health / exposure assessment	Environmental Health Perspectives	NIH-backed open access; leading journal for human health-environment links
Hazardous waste, heavy metals, microplastics	Journal of Hazardous Materials	Highest IF for contamination-focused research; very active field in 2026
Circular economy, waste management, recycling	Resources, Conservation & Recycling	Fastest-growing sub-field; high IF, strong Scopus indexing
Policy-linked environmental research	Environmental Research Letters	Open access, fast review (6–8 weeks), strong policy audience
Broad/interdisciplinary environmental study	Science of the Total Environment	High volume, high visibility, accepts diverse environmental topics
Sustainability + SDGs + energy transition	One Earth	Newest but fastest-rising journal; Nature Portfolio backing, Cell Press quality
PhD first paper in environmental science	Environment International / Sci. Total Environ.	Accessible Q1, broad scope, recognised for UGC/Scopus requirements

 

Tip: If you are unsure which journal best fits your paper, paste your abstract into the Journal Suggester at researchjournalrank.com/suggest it will instantly match your research to the top journals by topic, field, and quartile.

 

Key Trends in Environmental Science Journal Rankings 2026

Climate Science Dominates Impact Factors

Nature Climate Change (IF 30.7) and One Earth (IF 15.3) demonstrate that climate-focused journals now command the highest Impact Factors in the environmental science category. This reflects the extraordinary growth in climate research output driven by IPCC cycles, net-zero commitments, and the expansion of climate funding globally. Climate science papers in these journals are routinely cited hundreds of times within 2–3 years of publication.

Microplastics and PFAS Driving Hazardous Materials Surge

The Journal of Hazardous Materials (IF 13.6) has seen one of the most dramatic IF increases of any environmental journal in the past three years. This reflects an explosion in research on microplastics, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), and emerging contaminants driven by regulatory attention, public awareness, and massive growth in detection methodology research.

Circular Economy Becomes Mainstream

Resources, Conservation and Recycling (IF 13.2) has risen to the top tier of environmental journals, reflecting the mainstream adoption of circular economy frameworks in both academic research and policy. Extended producer responsibility, waste-to-resource technologies, and sustainable supply chains are all generating high-citation environmental science papers in 2026.

Open Access is Now Standard in Environmental Science

Environmental Research Letters (fully open access, no APC through many institutions) and Environmental Health Perspectives (fully free, NIH-funded) demonstrate that open access does not compromise citation impact in environmental science. With European and UK funders now mandating open access, the proportion of environmental science papers published open access exceeded 65% in 2025.

 

Tips for Publishing in Q1 Environmental Science Journals

1. Match your paper type to the right journal: Nature Climate Change publishes paradigm-shifting climate science breakthroughs not incremental local studies. ES&T publishes environmental chemistry and engineering. STOTEN accepts the broadest range. Mismatching paper type to journal is the #1 cause of desk rejection.
2. Quantify your contribution: Environmental science reviewers respond well to papers with clear, quantitative findings. 'Concentrations of PFAS exceeded WHO guidelines by 340% in X% of samples' is far stronger than 'elevated levels were found.'
3. Connect to global/policy relevance: Top environmental journals increasingly reward papers that connect local findings to global implications or policy relevance. Always include a paragraph on your study's broader significance.
4. For Indian researchers STOTEN and Environment International are most accessible: Both journals have broad scope, accept research from developing country contexts, and are fully recognized for UGC API scoring, NAAC, and Scopus indexing requirements.
5. Use Research Journal Rank for journal discovery: Filter by 'Environmental Science' subject area at /subject, compare shortlisted journals at /compare, and use the Journal Suggester at /suggest to match your abstract to the best-fit journal.
6. Verify before submitting: Use the Predatory Journal Checker at /predatory-check to confirm any journal is legitimate before submitting, especially for journals that contact you by email or offer unusually fast acceptance.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the best environmental science journal in 2026?

By SJR (prestige-weighted citations), Nature Climate Change leads at 14.432. By raw Impact Factor, Nature Climate Change also leads at 30.7. By H-Index (cumulative lifetime impact), Environmental Science & Technology leads at 534. By broadest scope and accessibility for early-career researchers, Science of the Total Environment is the most practical Q1 target. The 'best' journal depends on your sub-field: climate = Nature Climate Change, chemistry = ES&T, broad = STOTEN, policy = ERL, health = EHP.

Q2: Are environmental science journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science?

Yes all 10 journals on this list are indexed in both Scopus (Elsevier) and Web of Science (Clarivate SCIE). They qualify for UGC CARE Group 2 recognition for Indian researchers and meet the publication requirements of DST, ICMR, and other Indian funding bodies. Browse all Scopus-indexed environmental science journals on ResearchJournalRank.com at /indexed/scopus, or Web of Science journals at /indexed/wos.

Q3: What is a good Impact Factor for an environmental science journal?

In environmental science: IF above 5 is good, IF above 8 is very good, IF above 12 is excellent, and IF above 20 is world-class. Unlike medical journals where IF 30+ is possible for specialist journals, environmental science IFs are moderate by comparison Nature Climate Change at 30.7 is exceptional and reflects the extraordinary growth in climate citation rates. Always compare IF within your specific sub-field, not across disciplines.

Q4: Can PhD students publish in Nature Climate Change?

Yes, but it is extremely competitive with acceptance rates of 8–10%. PhD students who publish in Nature Climate Change typically do so through significant collaborative research, often involving major datasets, novel climate modelling approaches, or landmark attribution studies. For most PhD students, Science of the Total Environment (STOTEN), Environment International, or Environmental Research Letters are more realistic first-paper targets in environmental science. Build your record at Q1 accessible journals first, then target Nature Climate Change for your most impactful work.

Q5: What is the difference between environmental science, ecology, and environmental health?

Environmental science is the broadest category it encompasses the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the environment and human impacts on it. Ecology focuses specifically on organism-environment interactions, population dynamics, and ecosystem function. Environmental health focuses on the pathways from environmental exposures (chemicals, air quality, water quality) to human health outcomes. These categories overlap significantly in 2026, and top journals like Environment International and Environmental Health Perspectives explicitly bridge them. When selecting a journal, check its scope statement and recent published papers to confirm your study fits.

Q6: Is Science of the Total Environment good for PhD students in India?

Yes STOTEN is one of the most appropriate Q1 Scopus journals for Indian environmental science PhD students. It accepts a very wide range of environmental topics (water, soil, air, waste, ecology, toxicology), publishes research from all countries, has a clear and accessible submission process, and is fully recognized for UGC API scoring. Its Scopus Q1 status, combined with IF 9.8 and H-Index 388, gives publications strong credibility for promotion applications, NAAC documentation, and PhD completion requirements at Indian universities.

Q7: How do I find more environmental science journals on Research Journal Rank?

Visit researchjournalrank.com/subject and select 'Environmental Science' from the subject browser. You can then filter by quartile (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4), open access status, and SJR range. For personalised recommendations, use the Journal Suggester at /suggest — paste your abstract and receive instant journal matches for your specific environmental research topic. You can also compare any two journals directly at /compare to make a data-driven submission decision.

Q8: Which environmental science journals are fully open access with no APC?

Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) is fully open access with no APC — it is funded by the NIH/NIEHS. Environmental Research Letters (ERL) offers open access options, with many institutional agreements eliminating APC costs. For a comprehensive list of free-to-publish Scopus-indexed environmental science journals, visit ResearchJournalRank.com and filter by 'Environmental Science' subject area + 'Open Access' at /indexed/scopus, or use the Journal Suggester at /suggest with open access filter enabled.

 

Conclusion

Environmental science in 2026 offers one of the most dynamic and policy-relevant publishing landscapes in all of academia. From climate science breakthroughs in Nature Climate Change to accessible Q1 publications in Science of the Total Environment, the range of high-quality publication venues for environmental researchers has never been broader.

The key to strategic publishing in environmental science is sub-field alignment: knowing whether your paper belongs in a climate journal, an environmental chemistry journal, an ecology journal, or a broad interdisciplinary venue. The quick-select guide in this post gives you a clear starting point and the tools on Research Journal Rank help you refine your choice with data.