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Ports and Climate Change: A Systematic Review Aligned With the Sustainable Development Goals

Author

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  • Alex Gonçalves
  • Ana Regina de Aguiar Dutra
  • José Baltazar Salgueirinho Osório de Andrade Guerra
  • Ademar Dutra

Abstract

This article investigates how the international literature has addressed the role of ports in the context of climate change, aiming to highlight their contributions to global sustainability and to systematize the main research gaps that suggest avenues for future investigation. A systematic literature review was conducted using the Knowledge Development Process–Constructivist (ProKnow‐C) methodology. The process resulted in a bibliographic portfolio comprising 33 international scientific articles. Each study was analyzed to identify its primary findings, the associated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the research opportunities explicitly indicated by the authors. The analysis revealed a predominant focus on SDG 13, which appeared in 100% of the selected articles, underscoring the central role of the climate crisis in port‐related research. SDGs 9 and 11 also emerged frequently, reflecting an integrated perspective on innovation, sustainable infrastructure, and urban planning. Research opportunities related to the SDGs were identified and categorized into five thematic areas: governance, mitigation strategies and environmental management, infrastructural adaptation, port–city integration, and innovative sustainable technologies. This study provides an original contribution by systematizing how the international literature has addressed the interconnections between ports, climate change, and the SDGs. The structured mapping of research gaps offers a valuable agenda for scholars, port managers, and policymakers committed to advancing sustainable port development.

Suggested Citation

  • Alex Gonçalves & Ana Regina de Aguiar Dutra & José Baltazar Salgueirinho Osório de Andrade Guerra & Ademar Dutra, 2026. "Ports and Climate Change: A Systematic Review Aligned With the Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(S2), pages 390-402, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:34:y:2026:i:s2:p:390-402
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.70352
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    References listed on IDEAS

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