Work

Do Sustainable Investments in Ports Improve Air Quality in Port Cities? Evidence from European Ports

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Ports are drivers of economic development, but at the same time, they create significant environmental pressures for port cities. Sustainable port development is an important aspect of urban and logistical planning in European coastal cities, helping to improve local air quality, the quality of life in port cities, and impact sustainable economic development. This research aims to analyze the relationship between investments in sustainable practices implemented in ports and air quality in port cities, based on a sample of five European ports observed from 2013 to 2024. The Fixed Effects (FE) estimation model was used as the estimation technique. The results indicate that higher investments in sustainable practices are associated with lower NO2 concentrations in port cities. This highlights the significance of sustainable investments in improving air quality in port cities while advancing urban sustainability and contributing to economic development. This paper contributes to understanding the role of ports as an important link in the urban energy transition and provides guidelines for further integration of environmental policies into port and city planning.

Source: Urban Science

DOI: 10.3390/urbansci10050291

Authors: Gorana Mudronja, Mladen Jardas, Hrvoje Grofelnik

Institution: University of Rijeka

Language: English

Topic: Maritime Ports and Logistics

Subfield: Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Sustainable cities and communities, Climate action, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,930