The Blogs: Venice: A City Under Siege by Climate Change

Venice, the enchanting city of canals, gondolas, and romantic lore, faces an existential threat from climate change. This threat is not merely a distant possibility but a current and escalating crisis. Rising sea levels, increasing storm surges, and the city’s natural subsidence combine to create a perilous situation for this historical jewel.

Founded in the early 5th century by refugees fleeing barbarian invasions on the Italian mainland, Venice emerged as a powerful maritime republic by the 9th century. Leveraging its strategic location at the crossroads of trade routes between East and West, Venice dominated Mediterranean commerce, acquiring vast territories and wealth. Its unique system of governance, a mix of oligarchy and republic, allowed it to maintain stability and prosperity for centuries.

The zenith of Venetian power came during the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance when it became a major center of commerce, art, and culture. Architectural marvels like St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace reflect the city’s wealth and artistic achievements. Venice played a crucial role in the Crusades and had a monopoly on the trade of spices, silk, and other luxury goods from the East. However, the discovery of new trade routes around the Cape of Good Hope in the late 15th century and the rise of the Ottoman Empire gradually eroded Venice’s economic dominance. Despite these challenges, Venice remained a significant cultural hub, influencing art, music, and literature throughout Europe.

Shakespeare and The Merchant of Venice

William Shakespeare’s connection to Venice is most notably embodied in his play “The Merchant of Venice,” written around 1596-1599. The play uses the vibrant and complex city of Venice as a backdrop for exploring themes of justice, mercy, and the human condition. Venice, a major center of commerce and cultural exchange during the Renaissance, provided Shakespeare with a rich setting that reflects the city’s historical and economic significance. The character of Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, adds a layer of complexity and has sparked ongoing debates about antisemitism and empathy in the play. Shakespeare’s portrayal of Venice captures the city’s bustling marketplace, its legal structures, and its diverse population, making it an integral part of the narrative and thematic structure of the play.

The Grand Tour, Tourism, and the Biennale

In the 18th century, Venice became a crucial stop on the Grand Tour, an extended cultural trip through Europe undertaken by young aristocrats to complete their education. The city’s unique blend of history, art, and architecture made it an essential destination for those seeking to experience the pinnacle of European culture. This tradition of tourism has continued into the modern era, with Venice attracting millions of visitors each year, drawn to its picturesque canals, historic buildings, and vibrant cultural events.

One of the most significant of these events is the Venice Biennale, established in 1895. This international art exhibition is held biennially and has become one of the most prestigious cultural festivals in the world. The Biennale showcases contemporary art from around the globe, promoting cultural exchange and highlighting Venice’s ongoing importance as a center of artistic innovation.

Flooding and Subsidence

Venice experiences regular flooding, a phenomenon known as “acqua alta,” which has become more frequent and severe in recent decades.The great flood of 1966 resulted in the first Special Law for Venice, making the saving of Venice a national priority. Historically, exceptional high tides occurred about once every four years, but now, more minor flooding happens about four times a year. In the significant flood event of November 12, 2019, over 80% of Venice was submerged by nearly six feet of water, causing damages exceeding €1 billion.

The MOSE Project

The MOSE (Modulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico) project, initiated in response to the escalating crisis of flooding in Venice, represents a significant engineering endeavor aimed at safeguarding this historic city. This ambitious system comprises 78 mobile flood barriers designed to rise during high tides and storm surges, effectively preventing the influx of water into the city. According to the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, when fully operational, MOSE is anticipated to significantly mitigate the risk of flooding, offering Venice a reprieve from the increasingly frequent and severe acqua alta events that have plagued it. The project’s success in testing phases has demonstrated its potential to protect the city’s infrastructure and cultural heritage from devastating water damage (Guardian, 2020). The project, managed by the Consorzio Venezia Nuova, has incurred costs exceeding €5.5 billion, highlighting its scale and financial magnitude.It takes energy and time to deploy a moving barrier. MOSE operators estimate that it costs 200,000 euros each time the barrier is deployed—the cost of energy, the air being pumped and bridge staff plus 63 million euro a year.

Despite its promising capabilities, the MOSE project has encountered substantial challenges and criticisms. One major concern, highlighted in a study by Cecconi and Salmoiraghi, is its potential ecological impact on the Venetian Lagoon, an area renowned for its unique and delicate ecosystem. Critics argue that the barriers could disrupt the natural sediment flow that is vital for maintaining the lagoon’s health. Additionally, various researches suggest that by preventing the natural flooding of salt marshes, which play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity, the MOSE system may inadvertently harm the very environment it aims to protect. These environmental concerns have sparked significant debate among scientists, conservationists, and policymakers, highlighting the complex interplay between engineering solutions and ecological preservation.

Venice’s struggle to implement the MOSE project underscores the broader global challenge of adapting to climate change while balancing ecological and societal needs. The city’s efforts to deploy such an innovative and large-scale flood defense system reflect the urgent necessity for comprehensive and sustainable climate action. As a symbol of cultural heritage and human ingenuity, Venice’s experience with MOSE serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing battle against rising sea levels and extreme weather events. The lessons learned from this project can inform similar initiatives worldwide, emphasizing the importance of integrating environmental considerations into the design and execution of climate resilience strategies. The MOSE project, executed by a consortium of engineering companies under the umbrella of Consorzio Venezia Nuova, showcases the critical role of engineering expertise in addressing complex environmental challenges.

A City Belongs to All of Us

If we lose the war against climate change, the bad-case scenario for Venice is dire and multifaceted. The city, already plagued by frequent flooding, would face increasingly severe and persistent inundations. According to projections, sea levels could rise by as much as 120 cm by 2100, which would result in the regular submersion of significant portions of Venice, making it uninhabitable for residents and untenable for tourists who are the lifeblood of the local economy.

The structural integrity of Venice’s historic buildings would also be compromised under this scenario. Constant exposure to saltwater exacerbates the deterioration of the city’s foundations and lower structures. This saltwater infiltration causes bricks and mortar to weaken, leading to accelerated decay and potential collapse of these centuries-old buildings. UNESCO has highlighted that Venice’s unique cultural heritage, including priceless artworks and architectural marvels like St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace, is at severe risk of irreparable damage or loss due to flooding and subsidence. As the waters rise, the very fabric of Venice’s historical and cultural identity is under threat, potentially leading to a catastrophic loss of global heritage.

Beyond the architectural and cultural impacts, the ecological balance of the Venetian Lagoon, crucial for the city’s sustainability, would be severely disrupted. The lagoon is a delicate ecosystem that supports a variety of marine life and bird species. Academic research indicates that increased salinity and changes in sedimentation patterns, driven by frequent flooding and storm surges, would degrade the habitat quality. This environmental degradation not only threatens wildlife but also undermines the natural defenses of Venice against flooding, such as salt marshes and mudflats, which play a critical role in absorbing excess water and maintaining the stability of the lagoon’s ecosystem.

Ultimately, if climate change continues unabated, Venice could become a modern-day Atlantis, a submerged relic of human history and a stark testament to the devastating impacts of environmental neglect. The city’s gradual submersion would lead to the displacement of its population, the collapse of its tourism-dependent economy, and the loss of its irreplaceable cultural and historical assets. The Venice scenario serves as a poignant warning of the broader consequences of inaction on climate change, emphasizing the urgent need for global efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and protect vulnerable coastal cities from an otherwise inevitable fate.

Lessons for Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

The recurrent floods in Venice, driven by rising sea levels and increasing storm surges, offer crucial lessons for SIDS equally vulnerable to climate change. Venice’s experience underscores the importance of proactive flood defense and urban planning measures. The city’s deteriorating buildings, constantly exposed to saltwater, demonstrate the necessity for SIDS to invest in resilient infrastructure that can withstand harsh environmental conditions. Additionally, Venice’s efforts to address ecological impacts, such as maintaining the health of the Venetian Lagoon’s delicate ecosystem, are instructive for SIDS, which often rely on their natural environments for protection and resources. Academic research suggests that preserving biodiversity and natural barriers, such as coral reefs and mangroves, is critical for reducing the impact of storm surges and erosion. The threats to Venice’s historical and cultural heritage from rising waters parallel the potential loss of unique cultural sites in SIDS, emphasizing the importance of integrating cultural preservation into climate adaptation strategies. Venice’s plight serves as a poignant warning and a call to action for SIDS, demonstrating the urgent need for comprehensive climate action plans that combine infrastructure development, ecological preservation, and cultural safeguarding to protect their communities, economies, and legacies.

Conclusion

Venice has been home to many influential and famous individuals throughout its rich history. Among the most notable are Marco Polo, the famed explorer and merchant whose travels to Asia, documented in “The Travels of Marco Polo,” provided Europeans with one of the first comprehensive investigations of the cultures and geography of the East. Titian, a master of the Venetian school of painting and one of the most important figures in the Renaissance, influenced generations of artists with his vibrant color and dynamic composition. Antonio Vivaldi, the renowned Baroque composer and violinist, is best known for his iconic series of violin concertos, “The Four Seasons,” which has had a lasting impact on classical music. These individuals and many others have left an indelible mark on various fields, from exploration and the arts to literature and music, solidifying Venice’s reputation as a cradle of creativity and cultural exchange.

However, this city, with its rich cultural legacy, is now under significant threat from climate change. The environmental changes not only endanger the physical structure of the city, but also threaten its cultural heritage and the daily lives of its inhabitants. Historic buildings, priceless artworks, and ancient architecture face unprecedented risks, potentially leading to irreparable damage to this UNESCO World Heritage site. The flooding problem in Venice is emblematic of a broader global crisis, illustrating that climate change is not a distant threat but a current reality impacting even the most developed and historically significant areas.

The challenges faced by Venice are a stark reminder that climate change does not discriminate between developed and developing regions. Countries and cities across the globe, regardless of their economic status, are experiencing the detrimental effects of a warming planet. From the wildfires devastating the forests and communities in California and Australia to the severe hurricanes hitting the Gulf Coast of the United States and the Caribbean, it is clear that climate change is a universal issue requiring immediate and sustained action. The situation in Venice serves as a poignant example that even the world’s cultural and historical treasures are not immune to the impacts of climate change, emphasizing the urgent need for a concerted global effort to mitigate and adapt to these environmental changes.