Planning for transition in port cities: What role for port authorities?

Abstract for Special Session: Transitions in Port City Regions: Planning Beyond Oil Port cities are beacons and test labs for technological and planning solutions addressing some of society’s main challenges, connected to climate change, the energy transition or protecting biodiversity. At the same time, port cities are characterized by a particular ecosystem of actors, responsible for port and urban activities. In these cities, waterfronts and port city districts are in constant transition, and can be test-beds, bringing together different actors, with new chances of cooperation and innovation. The question remains, who has the responsibility to coordinate these networks, establish the connections and lead the actor ecosystem in these transitions?In this presentation we will discuss the role of port authorities in planning and governance arrangements, taking into consideration recent examples in different port city regions, like Barcelona, Rotterdam, Bahía Blanca, or Dublin.