Mapping Environmental Priorities in European Seaports: A Qualitative Content Analysis of ESPO Annual Reports
Mahmut Mollaoglu, Canberk Hazar, Murat Bayraktar, Onur Yuksel
article (Uluslararası, Hakemli) | Yazar(lar): Mahmut Mollaoglu, Canberk Hazar, Murat Bayraktar, Onur Yuksel | Yıl: 2026 | Dergi/Kurum: SAGE OPEN | İndeks: WOS.SSCI | DOI: 10.1177/21582440261492716 | Anahtar Kelimeler: Seaport, Sustainability, ESPO, MAXQDA, Environmental Priorities, Sustainable Development Goals — Özet:
Seaports are evolving into complex, data-driven, sustainable logistics platforms, moving beyond their traditional role as cargo transfer centres. In this context, European ports are distinguishing themselves through a strategy focused on value-added services, technology, and sustainability. Drawing on this context, this study examines the co-occurrence patterns between sustainable strategies and initiatives by evaluating environmental priorities within the scope of annual ESPO reports through a MAXQDA-driven analysis. First, the top ten environmental priorities from ESPO were coded into the MAXQDA programme. Then, relevant quotations from the annual reports were highlighted to identify co-occurrences between these priorities. A total of 5,588 code co-occurrences were identified in the analysis. The highest co-occurrence frequencies were observed for the following codes, in descending order: Air Quality (1,178), Climate Change (1,169), and Energy Efficiency (1,097). Collectively, these three codes account for around 61.7% of all identified code co-occurrences and highlight the main theme influencing the environmental aspect of port operations. These observations underscore that the pivotal operational activities of ports are progressively being shaped and prioritized in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).