Ports, Cities and Regions in Transition: Shaping Sustainable and Just Futures in Europe

Port-city-regions are critical territories where global maritime networks intersect with local and regional development. They function as gateways for flows of goods, people, energy, money and knowledge. Yet, these flows often create complex patterns of growth, opportunity, and territorial disparities across Europe. Amid climate change, the energy transition, economic restructuring and changing geographies of flows, European port-city-regions now stand at a crossroads. This book positions port-city-regions as laboratories of transition, where the dynamics of global flows and local development can be observed, tested, and rebalanced. Rather than treating flows and transitions as separate analytical strands, the book conceptualises them as interdependent: flows can generate spatial imbalances, while governance, innovation and planning can help transform these imbalances into more sustainable and just territorial configurations. With contributions from leading scholars and practitioners, the book combines conceptual, methodological, and applied perspectives, bringing together theoretical insights and grounded case studies. Across its three sections of Concepts, Methods and Actions, the book develops five interrelated themes: port-city-region development strategies and governance; flows, sustainable growth and uneven territorial impacts; knowledge, innovation and human-capital development; energy transitions in port-city-regions; and data-driven approaches to planning and stakeholder engagement. By integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches, the book offers a multi-scalar and interdisciplinary perspective on port-city-region transitions, contributing to both academic debates and policy practice. This volume will appeal to academics and graduate students in urban studies, regional development, and sustainability transitions, as well as policymakers, planners, and industry stakeholders seeking innovative approaches to the challenges and opportunities emerging at the port–city interface.