Add Venice to endangered heritage sites list, recommends UNESCO

The iconic island city of Venice, known for its architectural splendour and rich cultural history, is at risk of being added to the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger, media reports said.

In a report published on Monday, UNESCO expressed concerns about the simultaneous threats posed by climate change, mass tourism, and rapid urban development in the city.

The recommendation to include Venice on the ‘World Heritage in Danger’ list is aimed at encouraging remedial actions and garnering international support for the preservation of this vulnerable cultural treasure. The proposal will be discussed in UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee meeting scheduled for September.

Helene Marsh, a professor of environmental science at Australia’s James Cook University, commented on the alarming situation, stating, “It is tragic that the state of conservation of one of the most treasured cultural sites in the world is of such concern.” She emphasised that climate change poses an ‘existential threat’ to the preservation of heritage sites like Venice.

Climate change, mass tourism poses challenges for Venice’s existence

Climate change has emerged as a pressing danger to Venice, with rising sea levels and extreme weather events threatening its very existence. In 2019, the city experienced record floods that damaged St. Mark’s Basilica and disrupted daily life. In response, Venice has implemented sea walls and glass barriers to protect against high tides, but the challenges persist.

The city’s fragile historic old town, with a population of around 50,000 residents, is inundated with up to 110,000 visitors per day during peak tourist season. Mass tourism has been a longstanding issue, leading to pollution and straining the city’s resources. Italy imposed a ban on cruise ships approaching the island in 2021 and plans to introduce a day-trip tourist fee, although implementation has faced delays.

Additionally, Venice has taken strict measures to safeguard its cultural landscape, including imposing fines for littering and prohibiting certain activities that could endanger historical landmarks.

Despite Italy’s efforts, UNESCO deems the measures ‘still insufficient and need to be further developed’. The agency urges the country to address the challenges sustainably.

This is not the first time that UNESCO has considered placing Venice on the endangered-heritage list. The city narrowly avoided the designation in 2021 after the cruise ship ban was implemented. However, environmental activists argued that the government’s actions were not comprehensive enough to tackle all the issues facing Venice.

UNESCO emphasises that adding a site to the ‘World Heritage in Danger’ list can serve as a catalyst for finding effective solutions. The agency points to success stories like Belize’s barrier reefs, which saw progress after being listed in 2009. The Belizean government, in collaboration with UNESCO, implemented measures to halt oil exploration and drilling, reducing threats to the reefs.

Apart from Venice, UNESCO has also recommended adding Ukraine’s city centre of Lviv and St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv to the endangered sites list. Meanwhile, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef was spared from the designation due to the government’s protective actions.