Sustainability in port development: strategies for environmental, economic, and social resilience

Ports are an essential infrastructure for global trade, with over 4000 seaports operating worldwide. As international trade continues to grow at a rapid pace, the development of new ports is increasing at a similar rate. During the construction and operating phase, ports are highly intersected with environmental effects, economic growth, and social impact on their surroundings. However, with the increasing pressure to mitigate their adverse climate and environmental impact, implementing sustainability frameworks offers a promising path forward. This paper studied the potential benefits of incorporating sustainability frameworks into port operation and development, focusing on environmental protection, economic sustainability, and social effects. The paper presented case studies showing the successful implementation of port sustainability frameworks, offering practical insights and best practices that can be directly applied by port authorities, legislators, and stakeholders engaged in port planning and operations.