One-Meter Sea Level Rise Threatens Venice In Coming Decades

The Venice region should expect sea levels to rise by more than one meter in the coming decades, climate and marine researchers are warning, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported.

Photo Insert: The Grand Canal of Venice with the Santa Maria della Salute Basilica in the background at sunset.

Venice's flooding has been a pressing issue for years, gaining new urgency after the highest tide in more than 50 years inundated much of the UNESCO-protected lagoon city in November 2019.

Research published this week in the Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences journal stated that, if climate change is not significantly slowed, an increase of up to 120 centimeters is possible by 2100.

A rise of 170 centimeters was even foreseen under an extreme scenario. The scientists warned that the rising sea level must urgently be taken into account in Venice's urban planning.

The Italian government has invested billions of euros into a controversial anti-flooding barrier system to protect Venice. Known as MOSE, it was first successfully activated last year.

According to a forecast by the scientists, the barrier would have to remain closed for most of the year from 2075 onwards to protect the city from the sea. Yet that could do more harm than good, as the lagoon's sensitive ecosystem would be damaged by prolonged use of the barriers and there would be knock-on consequences for the economy.

The study was a collaboration among universities in Venice and Lecce, as well as Italy's Institute of Marine Science.

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