The Challenges of Sustainable Development for a Coastal City: the Case of Klaipėda
Volume 43, Issue 2 (2024), pp. 164–180
Pub. online: 11 July 2024
Type: Article
Open Access
Open Access
Published
11 July 2024
11 July 2024
Abstract
Increasing poverty, the intensive use of natural resources, the spread of diseases, air pollution, the loss of biodiversity, and other global
and local problems in many areas of the world, have encouraged society to take concrete actions and initiatives. Coastal cities are
particularly sensitive to anthropogenic impact, so it is necessary to combine a dynamic economy with social development, separating
economic growth from environmental impact. This article analyses the problems of sustainable development in the coastal city of
Klaipėda in three respects: economic, social and environmental. The economic activity in the port city ensures its multifunctionality,
promotes the creation of jobs and the development of infrastructure, and is of great importance to the development of the entire region.
However, the city faces various socio-economic challenges, as well as environmental problems (air pollution, unpleasant smells,
noise, traffic problems). Intensive port activity increases the scale of these negative environmental problems. Therefore, the article
presents the main problems of sustainable development in the city, which were identified after analysing statistical data, analysing
city and port development documents, and interviewing experts. After systematising the obtained results, measures are proposed for
the solution of each problem, which are differentiated according to the areas of the city of Klaipėda.