TY - UNPB AV - public N2 - The ports located in the Wadden sea region are facing peculiar challenges; on the one hand, the energy transition provides governance challenge due to non-linear developments, irreversible changes, and complex web of actors whose interlinkages and interconnectedness makes it really complicated to manage. On the other hand, facing the growing environmental concerns linked to the negative externalities of the energy transition that are particularly significant in the Wadden sea region. The research analyses these challenges using theoretical lenses of transition theory and management. A multiple case study approach is undertaken to explore how these challenges are approached by the ports located in the Wadden sea region. Semi-structured interviews are conducted with stakeholders in the governance of the selected ports, and with experts from knowledge institutes and environmental initiatives. The results show stiff competition between the case ports, fragmentation of measures and approaches, uncoordinated projects and endeavors, and lack of cross-border cooperation between the case ports. The research proposes an area-based planning approach which embeds renewable energy and hydrogen economy related projects in physical and socio-economic landscape. A shared governance that aims for consensus building, and spatial diversification and specialization among the case port is necessary to navigate the governance challenge posed by the energy transition and the environmental concerns. Furthermore, cross-border cooperation requires institutional harmonization which entails the cooperation and coordination between various institutional frameworks that guide different sectors and actors to mitigate environmental risks while enabling synergies between the energy transition and environmental planning. Y1 - 2021/// ID - theses_frw3663 UR - https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/3663/ M1 - master TI - Can the ports located in the Wadden Sea region be front runners in the energy transition and environmental planning? A1 - Mohamed, Zakaria Abdishakur EP - 96 ER -