The Paris City Council (France) has called on Parliament to pass a law giving the River Seine rights, so that “an independent guardian authority” can defend it in court to reduce the threat of pollution. This follows a resolution of a citizens’ convention on the future of the Seine. 50 citizens participated in debates to reach a collective opinion. Their proposal states that the Seine should have fundamental rights, including “the right to exist, to flow and to regenerate”. Already in February 2025, Paris decided to bestow the river with honorary citizenship, recognizing it as an integral part of the city’s soul and history. With 18 million inhabitants living in proximity to the river’s course and shared governance between HAROPA port, municipalities, and others, its course is already of significant social importance.

Port authorities are strengthening their ties with local communities by developing initiatives to connect with citizens. In Halifax (Canada), “One Port City Day” invites the public to discover the port behind the scenes and learn about its economic role. Around the same time, in Karlsruhe (Germany), the port authority is preparing for Hafen-Kultur-Fest 2025, an event that will combine culture, heritage, and promotion of its inland port activities. In Spain, several ports are stepping up their promotional efforts: Algeciras has concluded the 9th edition of “Conoce tu Puerto”, a program designed to introduce people to port professions and infrastructure; Avilés hosted a day of discussions on customs issues; and Cadiz welcomed nearly 900 visitors during its 6th open doors day. At the same time, the Balearic Islands Port Authority, in collaboration with over 40 partners, organized the 1st edition of Open Doors at the Port of Mahón, a special event that attracted a lot of interest from the local community.

The UK government unveiled a new roadmap in support of carbon capture, usage, and storage (CCUS) projects, expected to release nearly $34 billion of investment funds by 2035. The initiative aims to cut industrial CO₂ emissions by transporting and storing them underground with projects such as “Acorn” beneath the North Sea and “Viking” near Humberside. Overall, the government has pledged $12.8 billion to CCUS by 2030, alongside wider investments in clean energy and transport, supporting the country’s shift from fossil fuels to low-carbon technologies. In its ‘Comprehensive Spending Review 2025,’ the British government specifically supports the development of domestic clean energy by allocating up to $108.8 million, including funding for floating offshore wind projects in Port Talbot.

The Port of Los Angeles (United States) is making progress in its environmental protection initiatives by installing new infrastructure to treat stormwater and contaminated groundwater before it enters the harbor. By removing harmful copper and fecal bacterial discharges, these improvements hope to improve San Pedro Bay’s water quality. Additionally, the port is spending $1.3 million to restore the local environment, which includes a long-term trash removal program. Following previous concerns from citizens about water pollution, these steps are part of a larger commitment to sustainability and community health by the port authority. The upgrades coincide with a growing threat of bacterial contamination to California beaches.

The Port Authority of Santos (APS) (Brazil) and Sebrae-SP support the ‘Porto Fortalece: Economia Local’ project to strengthen the local economy. The initiative promotes a closer relationship between the logistics complex and the entrepreneurs of the Baixada Santista. This program involves upgrading the status of local suppliers by encouraging terminals, operators, and port service providers to reach out to them. The challenge is to build close links between the Port of Santos, local entrepreneurs, and small and medium-sized businesses, which will also enable them to adopt more conscious and sustainable practices. The project is part of a series of initiatives to promote the sustainable development of the Sao Paulo coast through collaborative innovation and territorial inclusion.

New York City Economic Development Corporation (USA) has launched ‘New York City’s Blue Highways,’ a project aimed at expanding the use of the city’s waterways and waterfronts for urban logistics. The strategy seeks not only to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, but also to create jobs. A study titled ‘Blue Highway Workforce’ was published to provide analysis and recommendations for creating 8,000 new jobs in this sector. It highlights 20 priority occupations. The report underscores the lack of diversity in the workforce and identifies key measures to address it. Another major goal is to raise awareness of career opportunities in the sector among local communities.