Sometimes summarised as the virtuous circle of “Reduce-Reuse-Recycle”, the concept of the circular economy is in fact more complex and implies rethinking the way cities are designed. The different strategies associated with the circular economy require a holistic approach to each district or city. This may be based on a new form of governance, founded on co-construction with citizens and users of services and infrastructures. This was notably the case with Schoonschip, an innovative circular district in Amsterdam.

Local authorities, partner enterprises and the Canadian Government have come up with a strategic plan for various parts of the waterfront and the neighbouring district. The aim is to provide facilities and infrastructures and to identify new uses for these sites, which bear numerous traces of their industrial past. A working group with a public consultation committee was set up in 2020. A series of public workshops have also been held since 2021, to obtain feedback and suggestions.

The port of Barcelona has unveiled plans to renovate the fish market, with work due to begin by the end of the year. The project has been designed in conjunction with the fishers’ guild, with investment of €8 million. For the President of the port of Barcelona, the project is “late in coming”, but “settles a historic debt with the fishers of Barcelona”.
The new fish market, a building of 3,233 m² equipped with 359 solar panels, will be constructed opposite the Torre del Rellotge. The renovation also means reorganising Port Vell to create better access for the public, including via the construction of a walkway.

The Port Authorities of Gdynia (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Roenne (Denmark), Rotterdam (the Netherlands), and Tallinn (Estonia) are partnering with the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping to lay the foundations for the green corridor serving Northern Europe and the Baltic. To achieve this zero-emission maritime route, a phased approach will be used. The technical, regulatory, and commercial feasibility of identified routes, vessels, and fuels will be assessed before implementing the corridor. This collaboration by major ports provides the necessary zero-carbon fuels at required bunkering scales for the decarbonization of the maritime sector.

This project announcement supports the Clydebank Declaration made at COP26 in Glasgow. This is the third green corridor implemented and more can be expected as Singapore will sign the declaration.

The port of Taranto is opening up to the city and the international public with its “Taranto Open Port” platform. The website, designed as an interactive resource for educating people about maritime and port culture, also aims to promote interaction for international cultural exchanges.
To that end, Taranto Open Port is arranged in seven theme-based sections: the project, the port, port life, the port’s inhabitants, timeline, art, rites and myths, and finally a blog for discussing all of these themes. New content will eventually be added to the site, and changes will be made to reflect the port city’s future development.