This Editorial introduces a series of papers on 'Progress in ecotoxicology, environmental chemistry and ecology' and was initiated in the context of the Joint SETAC GLB/GDCh Annual Meeting 2013 at the University of Duisburg-Essen. According to the title of the conference 'Ecotoxicology in an urban context' (Ökotoxikologie im urbanen Raum), a couple of conference contributions dealing with the occurrence and availability of pollutants relevant for organisms in urban environments will be published as papers in this series. Additional contributions with a focus on current developments in any field of ecotoxicology, environmental chemistry or ecology or which specifically address the importance of multiple stressors are welcome. We cordially invite all colleagues who feel they can contribute to the topic to submit a manuscript to ESEU with reference to this series.