VENICE, Italy — The historic lagoon city of Venice exists on the edge of a double threat: As it sinks, the seas rise. No one can actually tell if it will actually be operational,” said Mechtild Rossler, director of the UNESCO World Heritage Center in Paris, which lists Venice as one of its legally protected World Heritage sites because of its cultural and historical significance. Climate scientist Stefan Rahmstorf of the University of Potsdam estimates that one-third of Venice’s increasing vulnerability is due to global warming, which has raised the sea level. Venice is being monitored for inclusion on a list of World Heritage sites in danger, which serves as a call to action to the international community. The historic flooding only underscores the urgency to resolve Venice’s problems.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 16, 2019 00:22 UTC