Our monthly
PACT Newsletter
Each month, we share stories, highlights, and opportunities from across the PACT network — including events, research activities, calls and grants, Working Group news, and community achievements. We aim to publish the newsletter in the second week of each month.
MARCH 2026
Welcome to the March 2026 edition of the PACT newsletter! In this issue, we share updates from across the Action, including recent Working Group developments, a recap of the Lisbon conference, highlights from the OnePlanet Port report, and a new grant announcement.
WORKING GROUP UPDATES
WG 2 - Knowledge Discovery in Data
WG2 highlighted that it currently counts 112 members across the COST PACT network and has launched 9 subgroups: 7 pilot-based subgroups and 2 cross-cutting subgroups focused on indicators/KPIs and spatial analysis and mapping. Each subgroup consists of approximately 5 to 15 members.
The goal of these subgroups is to refine the scope of their respective case studies, carry out data collection and analysis that feeds into WG2 deliverables, and contribute to a joint output, such as a publication or a data visualisation and mapping product. WG2 leaders support this process by facilitating cross-subgroup alignment, focus group discussions, and comparative exchange across cases.
In March, the subgroups working on KPIs, Lisbon, Rotterdam, and Le Havre held their first meetings.
The main objective of WG2 is to learn from COST PACT case studies
through visits, workshops, and data analysis in order to:
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identify good practices in energy transitions in port-city territories
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support the use of data organisation and visualisation tools, including
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indicators and mapping tools
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formulate policy-relevant insights and recommendations
The key deliverables of WG2 include:
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multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder reports based on knowledge discovery in data from port-city territories
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mapping and explanation of resources and online tools for organising complex energy transition data
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policy briefs supporting action planning and policy initiatives in port-city territories
WG 5 - Transmitting
WG5 has recently introduced short member presentations within its monthly working group meetings, highlighting ongoing work related to port city territories. This new “showcase” format has proven highly successful and has quickly become a highlight of WG5’s monthly rhythm, creating space for
exchange, visibility, and cross-case learning.
For the March 2026 showcase, we had the opportunity to learn from Anas Alamoush and Rania Tzoraki, and we warmly thank them for sharing their time and knowledge.
In his presentation, Anas explored how ports can lead the energy transition through collaborative governance, using the Port of Aalborg as a living lab example that brings together public authorities, industry, academia, and civil society. A key message of the presentation was that ports should move beyond traditional management roles and become ecosystem orchestrators that build trust, coordinate stakeholders, and support co-created transition pathways.
Rania’s presentation focused on the concept of critical infrastructure and
vulnerability analysis, and their key indicators, illustrated through the SAFARI
(Safe, Climate, Resilient Port) project, with case studies from several river
ports across Europe.
Upcoming WG5 showcase presentations:
14.04.2026 | 14:00–15:00 — Hala El-Khozondar & Mosè Rossi
19.05.2026 | 14:00–15:00 — Bojan Srdjevic & Faruk Doğan
16.06.2026 | 15:00–16:00 — Piero Camera & Małgorzata Bielenia
If you would like to attend an upcoming WG5 monthly meeting and listen to the presenters, please contact Eliane Schmid (eliane.schmid@uni.lu)
LATEST EVENTS
Recap of Energy Transition & Waterfront Futures: Conference & Site Visit 25-27 March Lisbon, Portugal
The PACT Conference in Lisbon has officially concluded, marking a significant milestone in our collective journey toward inclusive and sustainable waterfronts. Over the past few days, our international research community has demonstrated that the Green Transition is a multi-dimensional evolution of policy, heritage, and social fabric.
From the strategic deliberations of our Management Committee to the innovative "Paper Presentations" and immersive "Sensorial Walks", this conference has enriched the interdisciplinary synergy required to tackle the complexities of port-city territories.
Key Institutional Takeaways:
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Integrating Heritage & Future: Our sessions highlighted how historic portscapes and past climatic data provide the essential "DNA" for resilient future urban planning.
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Dual Governance Models: The dialogue emphasised that the successful transition of maritime hubs relies on the seamless integration of port and municipal strategies.
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Methodological Innovation: From digital platforms to sociological toolkits, PACT is actively expanding the boundaries of how we analyse and engage with the "Land-Water Continuum".
A sincere “obrigado” to the Local Organising Committee, José Manuel Pagés Sánchez, Pedro Ressano Garcia, Paula Vale de Paula, the Portuguese Architectural Order, and all our members for their contributions. We leave Lisbon with a strengthened roadmap for the work ahead.
Until we meet again at our next meeting, thank you to all participants for your dedication to the PACT mission.
Obrigado! 🇵🇹 | Bye! 🇬🇧 | Au revoir! 🇫🇷 | Arrivederci! 🇮🇹 | Antio! (Αντίο!) 🇬🇷 | Dovidenja! 🇭🇷 |
Do viduvanje! (До видување!) 🇲🇰 | Viso gero! 🇱🇹 | Zàijiàn! (再⻅!) 🇨🇳 | Tot ziens! 🇳🇱 | Hoşçakalın! 🇹🇷
We would also like to extend our thanks to Sezi Karayezi for her report and for her work as our social media representative in Lisbon.
ONGOING EVENTS
Call for sound contributions – Port City Soundscapes
Our ongoing call for Port City Sound contributions remains open. We are collecting live sound recordings from port–cities around the world, including voices, machines, waterscapes, and everyday atmospheres, to build an open, collective soundscape archive.
Contributions are welcome from all members and from your local collaborators, so please feel free to share the call widely. You can contribute by:
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Uploading your audio or recording here
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Or simply reply / mention us with the song name, and we’ll add it to our public Spotify playlist.
More information is available here
GRANT
Open Call for Grant Awards
We would like to inform you that the Open Call for Grant Awards is now open for submissions. All participants are invited to apply for Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) and conference grants, which can support travel, accommodation, and related costs for projects and conference presentations aligned with PACT objectives.
All individuals registered as participants in the PACT CA23138 COST Action in e-COST are eligible to apply, with specific eligibility criteria applying to ITC and YRI conference grants.
Activities funded under this call may take place between 3 May and 20 September 2026. Applications are open from 28 March to 25 April 2026. The Grant Awarding Committee will evaluate submissions and notify applicants between 26 April and 3 May 2026.
For details on the types of grants available, eligible activities, and the application procedure, please consult the Grant Awarding Strategy and the Open Call on the PACT website.
You may also refer to the COST rules on grant awarding, Annotated Rules for COST Actions – Annex 2: Networking activities organised through a Grant Awarding process, here.
For any questions, please contact the Grant Awarding coordinators:
Hadi El Hage (h.elhage@tudelft.nl)
Lucijan Černelić (lucijan.cernelic@urbanex.hr)
We look forward to receiving your applications and wish all applicants the best of luck.
NEWS
One Planet Port in Action: Projects for Cleaner Port - Vision Report and Policy Brief
We would also like to highlight the recent developments at One Planet Port, an active COST PACT affiliate member contributing actively to several subgroups (WG2,3,5).
This month, One Planet Port published its Vision Report, an in-depth analysis of how ports and port-enabled activities impact the climate and Earth systems across the nine planetary boundaries. The report outlines a Vision for a One Planet Port that thrives within planetary boundaries and provides a roadmap with concrete recommendations for port governing bodies and policymakers at EU, Dutch and Rotterdam levels.
Along with the Vision Report, One Planet Port published a Policy Brief (co-authored by Maëlle Salzinger, Lucy Gilliam, Tanner Tuttle) which highlights the key policy recommendations from the Vision report, with a focus on how ports in Europe and Rotterdam can drive the change. The Policy Brief provides 5 recommendations, and 3 mindset shifts for port transformation.
These works help make the connection between Earth system science, academic research on Port City Territories, and policy impact, with a focus on the COST pilot site of Rotterdam. They also provide essential guidance for WG2’s work on good practices and indicators, by uncovering how decarbonization measures for ports and the shipping sector carry implications for the different planetary boundaries, including climate change but also ocean acidification, land degradation, nitrogen pollution, biodiversity loss, etc. As such, port-city decisions about the energy transition should be guided by a broader set of environmental indicators, as well as social, cultural, economic, spatial and governance indicators. WG2 is actively collecting and reflecting on these indicators in collaboration with our 100+ members from different disciplines.
One Planet Port is an independent Dutch NGO, based in Rotterdam. One Planet Port combines scientific research with policy work and public communications, focused on transforming the Port of Rotterdam into a port that operates within planetary boundaries. Visit their website here
This newsletter is brought to you by Science Communication Team.
Our goal and responsibility is to reach maximum public outreach and engagement. We are:
· Ryan Holmes - Science Communication Coordinator
· Eliane Schmid - Head of Communications Team
· Ilmian Sujatmiko - Communications Team Member
· Sezi Karayazi - Communications Team Member