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16th Annual Research Conference on Planning - CITTA 2024

Fostering Urban Transitions


November 29, 202416 CITTA_Poster.jpg

Welcome to the CITTA Research Conference on Planning 2024, dedicated this year to the theme "Promoting Urban Transitions." This event provides an essential platform for researchers, professionals, and policymakers from various fields, facilitating critical discussions about the future of urban areas in times of crisis.

The conference will take place in the historic center of Vila Nova de Gaia, near the famous Port Wine Cellars, in a location offering stunning views of the city of Porto. This remarkable venue provides participants with a unique opportunity to explore an area renowned for its heritage and beauty, enriching the overall conference experience.

Organized and promoted by CITTA – Research Center for Territory, Transport, and Environment at the University of Porto, the conference aims to advance the fields of urban planning, transportation, governance, and engineering. Through roundtable discussions, experts will explore applicable strategies to guide urban transitions toward sustainability, justice, and economic prosperity. This interaction will allow participants to absorb practical information, exchange experiences, and create networking opportunities. Additionally, the panel exhibition will provide different perspectives on the conference theme. The roundtable discussions will be held in Portuguese and are organized into three sessions:

Session 1 - Fostering Urban Transitions for Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Environments

Organization: Sofia Valente e Franklin Gaspar

This session explores how we can promote the urban transition towards greater climate resilience and environmental sustainability, with a special focus on existing and possible solutions and strategies for achieving these goals and for dealing with emerging or growing risks associated with climate change. Innovative strategies, effective public policies and cross-sectoral collaborations that make this transition possible will be discussed. In this sense, the debate will centre on the role of different types of solutions, namely Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), green and/or blue infrastructures, in managing climate-related risks and climate crises. The session will seek to promote a dialogue between representatives of the academic and professional spheres, discussing their main challenges and achievements in building more climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable urban environments.

Session 2 - Fostering Urban Transitions with Integrated Transportation

Organization: Sérgio Pedro Duarte and António Lobo 

Transportation plays a crucial role in ensuring the mobility of people and goods, and it must ensure the inclusion of all citizens in a sustainable and effective manner. Surrounded by conflicting objectives, the design and management of transport networks are of paramount importance for the quality of life in modern cities. In an increasingly digital world, will integrated transport systems be able to promote an urban transition that keeps pace with current sociodemographic transitions?

Session 3 - Fostering Urban Transitions for Transformative Governance and Socio-spatial Justice

Organization: Vinícius Netto, Paulo Conceição, Luísa Batista and Jorge Afonso

The session highlights the importance of socio-spatial justice for society and our cities, with a particular focus on access to housing and an urban experience compatible with the fulfilment of this right and the legitimate expectations of citizens at this level. It explores the emerging dynamics, causes and consequences, challenges and strategies (present and future) for planning to successfully intervene in the processes of urban segregation and to promote transformative governance, in which good practices and solutions are considered and debated'.

This conference is preceded by another event: the Practical Symposium for Doctoral Students, organised by a team of CITTA doctoral students and aimed at doctoral students in planning or associated subjects at any national or foreign university. All the symposium activities will be conducted in English.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Conference Organization:
António Ferreira, Cecília Silva, João Bigotte, Joana Bailão, Sílvia Spolaor, Lara Bomfim

Sessions Organization:
António Lobo, Franklin Gaspar, Jorge Afonso, Luísa Batista, Paulo Conceição, Sérgio Duarte, Sofia Valente, Vinicius Netto