Venice is threatened by rising sea levels. Will the city be forced to relocate?
Euronews.com • • world
Key Points:
- A new study in Scientific Reports evaluates adaptation strategies for Venice to combat sea-level rise, highlighting the city's increasing flood risks and the urgent need for action.
- Possible measures include constructing dikes costing €500 million to €4.5 billion for up to 0.5 meters of sea-level rise, and a "super levee" embankment exceeding €30 billion to protect against rises up to 10 meters.
- As a last resort, relocating Venice and its historic landmarks may become necessary beyond 4.5 meters of sea-level rise, projected after 2300, with estimated costs up to €100 billion.
- The study emphasizes no single optimal strategy exists, urging a balance between residents' safety, economic factors, ecological preservation, and cultural heritage, while noting that large-scale interventions require 30-50 years of planning and construction.
- Venice's flooding is exacerbated by its lagoon location, seasonal storm surges, global warming-induced sea-level rise, and land subsidence worsened by past groundwater pumping, which has now been banned.
