A collaborative Policy Workshop will take place on 18 September 2026 to co-create transformative policy recommendations that address the opportunities and challenges facing small and medium-sized ports and explore their potential to contribute to a more sustainable future for Port City Territories. Planetary boundaries, the critical life-support systems keeping the Earth healthy and resilient, will provide a compass for rethinking the environmental impact of port ecosystems and their roles in the just transition. The workshop welcomes policymakers, port authorities, municipalities, researchers, and civil society organisations with an interest in port cities and port city networks.
The workshop is organised by the LDE PortCityFutures (PCF) Small Ports, Big Challenges research group, One Planet Port (OPP), and COST Action C23138 PACT (Inclusive Energy Transition in Port City Territories). Participants may attend in person at TU Delft (Faculty of Architecture, Room T) or join online. Please note that some breakout sessions are in-person only; see the programme below.
The workshop will explore how relationships among ports of different sizes, operating within shared regional ecosystems and water networks, can drive the system change needed to accelerate a just transition within planetary boundaries. Participants will work together in thematic groups (breakout sessions) to develop practical policy recommendations and contribute to a joint Policy Brief.
The Policy Brief will acknowledge those who actively participate in and contribute to it. It will be developed jointly by One Planet Port, PortCityFutures, and PACT and will form part of a wider series of policy briefs developed through this collaboration.
Workshop Programme
- 09:00–10:15: Introduction by the three organisers
Introduction to the objectives of the workshop, the opportunities and challenges of small ports within port networks (PCF), the Planetary Boundaries Framework (OPP), and energy justice and just transition policies (PACT). - 10:15–10:30: Break
- 10:30–12:15: Co-creating the Policy Recommendations
Participants will work in thematic groups to co-create transformative policy recommendations in four areas:- Energy transition through a planetary-boundaries lens — in person
- Circular economy — in person
- Social justice and the just transition — online or hybrid
- Governance of small ports — online or hybrid
- 12:15–13:00: Group discussion and sandwich lunch
PCF will provide a sandwich lunch.
Registration
The workshop is open to anyone interested in the potential of small and medium-sized ports within port networks. Participants are asked to register through the designated registration link by 31 August 2026.
The final agenda and online meeting link will be shared directly with registered participants.