ABSTRACT
The sustainable development of the cities, including port ones, represents one of the major challenges for the future of the planet in the 21st century, relatively to the contribution and adaptation to climate change, natural resources consumption, energetic transition, population mobility, welfare and security, pollution, the global economic growth. A smart sustainable development can start from the port areas’ new circular metabolism which should be extended to the whole city/region, thus modifying the land and space use through new efficient planning and design able to increase the comprehensive quality of the urban landscape. The aim of the paper is to present the urban sustainable development challenges, taking as a case study the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) elaboration process in the city of Gdynia. The research has been based on a literature review and Author’s practical experience as an expert within the EU CIVITAS DYN@MO project. For study justification, reports relating to smart and sustainable seaport areas development and city internal documents have been studied. Current patterns of transportation development are not sustainable and may compound both environmental and health problems for this port city inhabitants. However, an integrated smart development model, supported by sustainable urban planning, may contribute to urban ecological resilience of such port areas.
