The UN’s cultural agency has proposed that Venice ought to be added to the list of endangered world heritage sites.
The latest report from Unesco outlines the dire situation of the iconic Italian city, emphasising the ‘irreversible’ damage potentially caused by the confluence of intense tourism, overdevelopment, and rising sea levels attributed to climate change.
The agency’s primary aim is to inspire the implementation of more effective preservation strategies, thus securing the site’s heritage for generations to come.
In response to the proposal, a spokesperson for the Venice municipality assured that they will conscientiously scrutinise its contents.
After careful consideration, the spokesperson explained that the proposal’s next step would involve consultations with the Italian government.
Although historically known as ‘La Serenissima,’ a moniker synonymous with tranquility, Venice has evolved to a state where this description no longer holds true.
The Unesco report singles out the lack of ‘strategic vision’ on the part of the Italian authorities as a key factor contributing to the problems faced by one of Italy’s most picturesque cities.
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The authorities’ inability to safeguard the historic city and the surrounding lagoon, coupled with the accusation, poses a serious challenge.
According to a former mayor of Venice, the international heritage agency is regarded as ‘one of the most expensive and useless bodies on the face of the earth.’
Citing a lack of knowledge in Unesco’s judgments and opinions, Massimo Cacciari urged people to disregard the organization’s views.
‘They don’t give us any funding to make changes, all they do is criticise… As if Venice needed Unesco to be a world heritage site! We need more action and fewer words.’
Two years ago, Unesco had recommended Venice’s inclusion in the danger list, but the Italian government’s swift adoption of emergency measures prevented such action.
A key measure taken by the Italian government was the prohibition of large ships, including cruise ships, from navigating the San Marco Canal, accompanied by a pledge to embark on an ambitious city conservation plan.
Unesco has advised extending the ban on large ships to cover other environmentally harmful boat models, yet the current enforcement concentrates exclusively on large ships.
Unfortunately, the plan to rescue Venice from its challenges has never materialized and remains a distant dream.
Unesco experts have reportedly written several letters to the Italian government, asking for updates and a timetable on the matter, but the responses they received were deemed insufficient, according to la Repubblica.
The Unesco report, as seen by la Repubblica, highlights the absence of a robust strategy from the authorities in charge of handling the city’s emergency to counter the threat posed by climate change.