The Port Authority of Seville and the AIVP, the world network of port cities, have exchanged experiences on port-city interaction, circular economy projects and the management of uses of the sheet of water.

The Port Authority of Seville and the world network of port cities, AVIP, have brought together some twenty representatives of ports and river cities to share experiences and good practices, and to promote the exchange of solutions to the main challenges of port-city integration.

Under the title ‘Cities, ports and rivers: responding to global challenges with local solutions’, the sessions were held over two days, 5 and 6 March, on the urban reconversion of river areas, sustainable port cities and the coordination of uses and activities on the sheet of water.

During the first day, the Urban Port District of Seville was the main case study, including a technical visit of the area. This area covers a surface area of 40 hectares, between the Delicias and Centenary bridges along the length of the city, and the Avenida de Las Razas and the dock along the width, and is articulated around a system of open spaces, facilities and economic activities.

The President of the Port Authority of Seville during the inauguration of the port – city meeting.

In addition, the attendees were also able to learn how the transformations of the Guadalquivir have shaped the city of Seville with the aim of preventing the historic floods. These changes have led to the development of large areas of growth, green zones and the extension of the port of Seville.

During the second day, the Port Authority of Seville presented their circular economy projects to enhance the value of the Guadalquivir estuary by improving navigation. Thanks to the sediments extracted from the maintenance dredging of the channel, the port institution has regenerated the Doñana and Sanlúcar de Barrameda coastline, created wetlands for aquatic birds, and made progress in the use of the material for the ceramics industry and the enrichment of agricultural areas. These initiatives have been recognised with the ESPO 2024 award for circular economy.

The meeting took place in the Tourism Offices of Seville City Council, on Paseo de Marqués del Contadero, and was attended by representatives of HAROPA, which brings together the ports of La Havre, Rouen, and Paris; the Port of Lyon and Strasbourg, in France; the Port of Brussels and Namur, in Belgium; the Ministry of Infrastructures and Water of the Netherlands, among others; as well as university researchers, town planners and representatives of port cities.

It was also attended by the president of the Port Authority of Seville, Rafael Carmona, the director of the Port Authority, Ángel Pulido, the manager of Urban Planning and the Environment, Fernando Vázquez, and the technical director of the Authority, Jorge Almazán, as well as Jose María de Cárdenas of Eddea Citythinking, who is part of the Technical Office of the Urban Port District.

Agenda 2030

The Port Authority of Seville and AIVP have signed the Agenda 2023 of the world network of port cities. AIVP’s Agenda 2030 adapts the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals to the specific context of Port City relations. This document, drawn up jointly with IACP members at the Quebec Conference in 2018, sets 10 goals for 2030. It was deposited at the United Nations in 2019 as the contribution of port cities to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, in the context of the cooperation initiated with this international institution.