CA23138 – Port City Territories in Action: A collaborative Laboratory for Inclusive Energy Transition (PACT)

Ports have long been hubs of energy transport and transformation–notably petroleum–; they are also key to facilitating the energy transition both in terms of transport and in terms of production. These energy hubs have unique safety and security requirements, they are also located in a fragile ecosystem at the edge of sea and land. Ports have facilitated the growth of major metropolises and attracted people and corporations, creating a complex system. At a time of climate change major societal urgencies, and a much-needed shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, many problems are condensed in these territories. As hubs of economic development, port city territories are developing new approaches to understanding, initiating, and coordinating sustainable and inclusive transitions that require more than technological responses. This transition necessitates a value-based approach and collaborative, multi-disciplinary action. The COST Action PACT – Port City Territories in Action: A Collaborative Laboratory for Inclusive Energy Transition, proposes new methodological responses for knowledge co-production and collaborative planning towards sustainable, inclusive futures by focusing on the spatial and socio-cultural implications of energy transition on port city territories. PACT builds on six main objectives: mapping, reframing, co-creating, including, envisioning, and transmitting. It has identified four pilot studies where cooperation between ports and cities has taken new forms: Le Havre, Livorno, Rotterdam and Cadiz. They will serve to inspire other case studies from Europe to test the PACT Framework through multiple workshops.

The project aims:

• Facilitate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy in port cities by integrating technological, spatial, and socio-cultural dimensions.
• Develop innovative methodologies for collaborative planning and knowledge-sharing between diverse stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, port authorities, and local communities.
• Create strategies that balance the unique safety and security needs of energy hubs while preserving fragile ecosystems at the intersection of sea and land.
• Ensure that energy transitions in port cities are inclusive, addressing the needs of marginalized groups and fostering equitable access to opportunities and benefits.
• Encourage cooperation across disciplines and sectors to reframe the challenges of energy transition, incorporating social, cultural, economic, and environmental perspectives.
• Reimagine the relationship between ports and cities to align their development goals, ensuring harmonious and sustainable growth.

Izpildītāja: E.Budiloviča