Italy’s Submerged Future: A Nation Battling the Sea

As Climate change accelerates and global ocean levels rise, many coastal regions are experiencing the direct effects of this transformation. Among most vulnerable nations in Europe is Italy a country over 7,600 kilometers (about 4722.42 mi) of coastline and world-famous cities like Venice already battling rising waters. Rising sea levels are primarily caused by two factors: the thermal expansion of seawater as it warms and melting of polar ice sheets and glaciers.

Italy’s vulnerability to rising sea levels is more apparent in the city of Venice. Often referred to as “the floating city,” Venice has long been famous for its canals, but over the past century, the city has been sinking at the rate of about 1-2 millimeters (about 0.08 in) per year. This natural subsidence, combined with rising water levels in the Adriatic Sea, has led to increasingly severe flooding, known as locally acqua alta.

In November 2019, Venice experienced one of its worst floods in over 50 years, with water levels reaching 187 centimeters above normal. The flooding caused severe damage to the city’s historical landmarks, including St. Mark’s Basilica, and raised alarms about the future of Venice’s cultural heritage.

As the world watches Venice and other Italian cities struggle with the immediate consequences of rising sea levels, the question remains: can we reverse course before it’s too late or will Italy’s sinking be a harbinger of what is to come for costal nations worldwide?