Do Sustainable Investments in Ports Improve Air Quality in Port Cities? Evidence from European Ports

Ports are drivers of economic development, but at the same time, they create significant environmental pressures for port cities. Sustainable port development is an important aspect of urban and logistical planning in European coastal cities, helping to improve local air quality, the quality of life in port cities, and impact sustainable economic development. This research aims to analyze the relationship between investments in sustainable practices implemented in ports and air quality in port cities, based on a sample of five European ports observed from 2013 to 2024. The Fixed Effects (FE) estimation model was used as the estimation technique. The results indicate that higher investments in sustainable practices are associated with lower NO2 concentrations in port cities. This highlights the significance of sustainable investments in improving air quality in port cities while advancing urban sustainability and contributing to economic development. This paper contributes to understanding the role of ports as an important link in the urban energy transition and provides guidelines for further integration of environmental policies into port and city planning.