The Regional Studies Association’s Annual Conference 2025 was held from 6 to 9 May 2025, organised by the Regional Studies Association in partnership with the School of Economics and Management at the University of Porto, Portugal. The conference brought together a large number of scholars, researchers, and policymakers from 57 countries across the globe, with the aim of exchanging the latest scientific insights, research findings, and practical experiences in the fields of regional studies, regional development, public policy, and spatial planning.
Over the course of the four-day programme, participants engaged in a wide range of thematic panels, discussions, and networking activities, which provided a critical platform for exploring contemporary challenges and future directions in sustainable regional development. Special emphasis was placed on interdisciplinary approaches to addressing sustainability transitions, climate governance, and spatial planning.
As part of the thematic panel entitled Sustainability Transitions and the Environment: Sustainability, Climate Governance and Planning, Dr. Ivana Keser delivered a presentation titled “Green Infrastructure: A Key Mechanism for Enhancing Urban Resilience.” In her presentation, Dr. Keser introduced the concept of resilience through the lens of integrated urban governance, highlighting green infrastructure as one of the key instruments for strengthening urban resilience in the face of climate change and environmental pressures.