GreenFORCE at the RSA Annual Conference 2025
GreenFORCE proudly participated in the 2025 Regional Studies Association (RSA) Annual Conference, held at the University of Porto under the theme “Navigating Regional Transformation”. From May 6–9, 2025, the conference convened academics, policymakers, and practitioners from over 55 territories across Europe to explore sustainable regional transformation strategies. It featured an engaging program of special sessions, plenaries, and technical site tours.
As part of the conference, GreenFORCE was actively involved in Session SS79, titled “Resilient Responses in the Territorial Governance of Just Green Transitions”. Co-organised by Yahya Shaker (Politecnico di Torino) and Ersi Zafeiriou (DLGS/IOER, Germany), the session focused on how resilient spatial planning and multi-level governance can support justice-oriented green transitions across Europe. Yahya Shaker presented a qualitative comparative analysis of institutional configurations and policy trajectories across the EU, shedding light on how diverse regional governance frameworks enable or constrain Just Green Transitions.
Grazia Brunetta and Daniel Mohabat Doost explored the nexus of social inclusion and equity in resilience governance. Their discussion emphasized the tightrope of maintaining both stability and flexibility in governing transitions. Martina Caputo brought lessons from post-earthquake resilience processes in Central Italy, emphasising the importance of building resilience in vulnerable territories for a just and sustainable transition.
Session SS79 shed light on how resilient and just green transitions depend on collaboration across all levels of governance—from local to European. Speakers emphasized that resilience must go beyond technical robustness to ensure no one is left behind, with fairness and social inclusion at the core. Lessons from post-earthquake recovery in Central Italy highlighted how crisis can be a catalyst for more equitable and adaptive policymaking.
GreenFORCE’s presence at RSA reflects its commitment to advancing the discourse on just, sustainable, and resilient urban transitions.
Image Credit: Responsible Pisk Resilience Centre, Politecnico di Torino
