Venice is sinking. Now there’s a radical plan to lift the entire city above rising floodwaters

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🗞️ Driving the news: Venice continues to sink at around two millimeters per year, while sea levels rise by five millimeters annually, placing the city at increasing risk of catastrophic flooding
• A radical proposal by engineer Pietro Teatini suggests raising Venice itself by injecting water into deep underground aquifers, lifting the city by up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) to buy several decades of time for a permanent solution
 
🔭 The context: Venice has historically battled the tides through engineering feats, from canal rerouting to the MOSE flood barriers installed in 2020
• However, MOSE was designed for occasional use but now operates almost weekly due to accelerating climate change
• Past extraction of groundwater contributed to subsidence, and previous efforts like cement injections raised small islands, but no large-scale elevation project has been attempted
• For the context, illuminem reporting you has its HQ in the heart of Venice

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Venice is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a symbol of cultural heritage threatened by climate change
• Preserving it without devastating the surrounding lagoon ecosystem could set a precedent for adaptive responses in other vulnerable coastal cities
• However, there are risks of destabilization, ecological disruption, and the solution would be temporary without addressing the root cause: global sea level rise

⏭️ What's next: Teatini proposes initial testing of his method at a smaller scale, costing €30–40 million, before full deployment
• The newly established Autorità per la Laguna will oversee interventions in the lagoon, potentially deciding on new strategies within the next few years
• The MOSE barriers will likely remain a primary defense for another 40–50 years, necessitating urgent long-term planning for Venice’s survival

💬 One quote: "It’s a unique city, there is no other place like Venice — and that’s why I think it has to be maintained in its environment, which is its lagoon," — Pietro Teatini

📈 One stat: Since 1900, Venice’s average sea level has risen nearly 30 centimeters (one foot), while the city itself has subsided around 25 centimeters (10 inches)

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